ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – San Diego State sophomore forward Jalen McDaniels and senior guard Devin Watson have been named to the all-Mountain West second team and third team, respectively, by the media that covers the league on a regular basis. The second-team honor is McDaniels' second by the conference media after he earned third-team recognition from the group last year, while Watson's third-team selection is his first honor.
Originally from Federal Way, Wash., McDaniels made the second team following a season that saw him average 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds in league games, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 77.0 percent from the line. Overall, he is averaging 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Starting in all 31 games this season, the sophomore has racked up nine double-doubles, including six straight earlier this year. The six consecutive double-doubles is the longest streak by an Aztec in the last 23 years (since 1996-97), surpassing Kawhi Leonard's streak of five straight (done multiple times).
A back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Week, the forward earned a spot in the record books following a stellar performance in the team's late January victory over UNLV when he recorded a career-high 30 points in addition to 13 rebounds, four assists and five steals in the game. McDaniels became the the first player to record at least that many in each category since LSU's Ben Simmons on Dec. 2, 2015, who went on to be the No. 1 NBA Draft pick in 2016. McDaniels is also one of 10 players in the country to average at least 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal per game, while shooting at least 47 percent from the field.
Watson earned his first all-conference award after averaging 15.9 points and 3.3 assists in league games, while connecting on 37.1 percent of his three-point attempts (43-for-116). Overall, Watson leads San Diego State in assists (130) and minutes played (1,045), and is second in scoring (15.7). A starter in all 31 regular-season contests, the senior guard has led the team in scoring in 13 games and has recorded the highest assist total in 21 of SDSU's matchups. Watson has had 27 double-figure scoring games, including 10 20-point games and eight with at least seven assists this season. Watson is also one of eight players in the nation to average at least 15.7 points, 4.2 assists and 2.5 three-point field goals per game this season.
The Oceanside, Calif., native also has logged double-digit point totals in 16 of 18 conference games this season, including a season-high 27 with six assists against San José State, when he was 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. Against the Spartans, Watson became just the second Aztec in the last 23 years (since 1996-97) to record at least that many points and assists in the same game. The senior also earned his first MW Player of the Week accolade following his performance in the team's win over sixth-ranked Nevada.
A total of 10 (out of 11) Mountain West markets turned in ballots for this year's poll. In markets where more than one outlet covers a team closely, beat reporters from competing publications put together a joint ballot.
Voters ranked their top 15 players for first-, second- and third-team all-MW with their player-of-the-year pick receiving 15 points and the last man on the third team receiving one point.
San Diego State returns to action on Thursday as the No. 4 seed at the MW Championship in Las Vegas, Nev. The Aztecs will face fifth-seeded UNLV in the quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. PT at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center.
McDaniels, Watson named to All-MW teams by media
