LAS VEGAS – San Diego State sophomore forward Jalen McDaniels and senior guard Devin Watson have been named to the all-Mountain West second team, and senior guard Jeremy Hemsley to the all-defensive team by the conference's head coaches, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. All-conference selections are based solely on Mountain West play.
A second team honoree on both the media and coaches' polls, McDaniels averaged 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. The Federal Way, Wash., native started in all 31 regular-season games and totaled 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).
The sophomore was named Mountain West Player of the Week two weeks straight 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 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. He 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 a second-team nod from the league coaches after averaging 15.9 points and 3.3 assists in conference 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 game this season, the senior guard has led the team in scoring in 13 games and has recorded the highest assist total in 21 of San Diego State's contests. The senior 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.
Watson has recorded double-digit point totals in all but two of the team's18 conference games, 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, the Oceanside, Calif., native became just the second Aztec player 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.
Hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Hemsley earns his fourth all-MW nod by the league coaches in his four years as an Aztec, first as the MW Freshman of the Year and third team all-conference following an impressive rookie season, as well as honorable mention accolades in 2017 to close his sophomore year. The senior guard led the team in steals in both conference play (20) and regular season (35), and was second for the Aztecs in blocked shots (11) in MW action. The best defensive player on the team, Hemsley has led the Aztecs in conference games as the team ranks No. 2 in the MW in three categories, including scoring defense (66.7), field goal percentage defense (41.3), and KenPom efficiency (97.4).
The senior tied his career-high with nine assists in the team's home win over New Mexico in mid-January and was the team leader in the category in eight conference games. He also became just the third Aztec in the last 23 years to record at least 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, one block one steal and shoot 70 percent from the field against Air Force. A key player both as a perimeter defender and offensive performer, the senior guard also averaged 9.1 points per game in conference play and moved up to No. 9 on SDSU's all-time scoring chart (1,372). Hemsley started 16 of the 17 league games in which he played after missing just one game this season against Wyoming due to illness.
This marks the 18th straight season in which San Diego State has had at least two all-league performers. On Monday, the conference media also voted McDaniels as an all-MW second team player and Watson as third team honoree.
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.