J'Covan Brown Named First Team All-Big 12 Basketball

Although it's been an up-and-down season for this young Texas Longhorns basketball team, junior guard J'Covan Brown has kept Texas' hopes for a 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid alive with a tremendously impressive 2011-12 season, and though Brown would undoubtedly prefer that invitation to the Dance over any individual awards, hopefully he smiled today upon learning that the league's coaches voted him to the All-Big 12 First Team.

Brown became 12th Longhorn selected to the First Team All-Big 12 honors, joining previous First Teamers Jordan Hamilton (2011), Damion James (2010), DJ Augustin (2008), Kevin Durant (2007), PJ Tucker (2006), Lamarcus Aldridge (2006), TJ Ford (2003), Chris Mihm (2000, 1999), Gabe Muonecke (1999), and Reggie Freeman (1997).

J'Covan Brown finished the season as the Big 12 scoring champ, averaging 20.0 points per game (including a Big 12-leading 20.5 points per conference game), and finished among the league leaders in FG Percentage (42.0, 9th), Assists (3.9, 8th), FT Percentage (86.0, 4th), Steals (1.3, 8th), 3PFG Percentage (37.5, 14th), 3PFGs Made (74, 4th), Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (1.47, 8th), and Minutes Played (35.3, 2nd).

Thomas Robinson was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, but if there were an MVP Award, J'Covan Brown would be a hands-down winner. Congratulations to J'Covan Brown on one of the best and most impressive individual seasons in Texas Longhorns basketball history.

MYCK KABONGO HONORED: Texas' point guard didn't have quite the brilliant freshman campaign as DJ Augustin and TJ Ford did, both of whom were honored on the Second Team All-Big 12, but by mortal standards Kabongo was very good as a freshman, and for his performance he earned Honorable Mention placement on the All-Big 12 Team, after averaging just over 10 points per game and finishing the season among the Big 12 leaders in assists (5.3, 4th), steals (1.2, 12th), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67, 6th).