Greenville, S.C. – Furman's Jalen Slawson was the consensus selection as Southern Conference Player of the Year in voting by the league's coaches and media, it was announced on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Slawson was joined on the first team squads by fellow fifth-year senior Mike Bothwell while Paladin rookie Ben VanderWal earned a spot on the coaches' SoCon All-Freshman team.
 
A native of Summerville, S.C., Slawson averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocked shots per game during the regular season. His versatile stat line has not been matched by an NCAA Division I player in the past decade. The forward stepped up his play in league play by contributing 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per outing to power Furman to a 15-3 SoCon record, a share of the regular season title, and the Paladins' first No. 1 seed in the SoCon Men's Basketball Championship since 1991. 
 
Slawson, who captured Furman's 12^th SoCon Player of the Year citation in program history and first since Devin Sibley won the award in 2017, posted eight double-doubles this season. He totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds in a victory over Belmont, 16 points and 12 boards at Appalachian State, and posted 25 points in a home victory over Winthrop. During conference play, Slawson hit the game-tying shot in regulation and keyed a 91-84 overtime win over Samford with 26 points and 11 rebounds. On February 22, the Pinewood Prep product netted 27 points in a 70-67 win over Mercer in his final regular season home game at Timmons Arena. The first team All-SoCon honor marked the second straight for Slawson.
 
Bothwell, who joined Slawson in becoming Furman's all-time winningest players with their 112th career victory on Saturday at Samford, captured All-SoCon honors for the third time. The Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native averaged a league-best 17.9 points per game while adding 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest. Once again in 2022-23, he saved some of his best performances for key moments. On December 17, he netted a season-high 36 points and hit the game-winning jumper in the final seconds as Furman topped defending WAC regular season champion Stephen F. Austin, 72-70, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. In the regular season finale, Bothwell scored the first 18 points of the game for the Paladins and finished with 35 in a 93-79 win over Samford that secured a share of the league title.
 
Entering the conference tournament, Bothwell ranks sixth on Furman's career charts with 1,935 points. He has shot 52.9% from the floor this season and 84.5% at the foul line.
 
VanderWal proved to be a crucial piece off the Furman bench this season and averaged 4.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He garnered seven starts on the year and fashioned a career-high with 14 points in a January win over The Citadel. The Elmhurst, Ill., product notched his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in a victory at Wofford.
 
Furman opens postseason play on Saturday at noon when it faces the winner of Friday's No. 8 seed Mercer versus No. 9 seed The Citadel matchup in quarterfinal round action at the Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, N.C. Click here for ticket information and find out all the latest information about Furman activities at the tournament at FurmanPaladins.com.
 
Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available on Nexstar affiliates throughout the region. The game can also be heard on The Fan Upstate at 97.7 FM, 1330 AM, and via the Audacy app with Dan Scott and Tom Van Hoy on the call.
 
 
Coaches All-Southern Conference Men's Basketball Teams
 
Player of the Year
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, FUR
 
Freshman of the Year
Jackson Paveletzke, G, WOF
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Kobe Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
 
Coach of the Year
Mike Jones, UNCG
 
First Team
Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, Furman
Keyshaun Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
B.J. Mack, Sr., F/C, Wofford
 
Second Team
Stephen Clark, Sr., F, The Citadel
Ques Glover, Jr., G, Samford
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Tre Jackson, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Vonterius Woolbright, Jr., G, Western Carolina
 
Third Team
Jalen Haynes, So., F/C, ETSU
Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Jalyn McCreary, Jr., F, Mercer
Keondre Kennedy, Gr., G/F, UNCG
Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F, Samford
 
All-Freshman Team
Ben VanderWal, F, Furman
Jah Quinones, G, Mercer
Sam Alexis, F/C, Chattanooga
Asher Woods, G, VMI
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford
 
 
SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA)
 
Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, FUR
 
Freshman of the Year
Jackson Paveletzke, G, WOF
 
Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Bucky McMillan, Samford
 
First Team
Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, Furman
Keyshaun Langley, Sr., G, UNCG
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
B.J. Mack, Sr., F/C, Wofford
 
Second Team
Stephen Clark, Sr., F, The Citadel
Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F, Samford
Tre Jackson, Jr., G, Western Carolina
Vonterius Woolbright, Jr., G, Western Carolina
 
Third Team
Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Jalyn McCreary, Jr., F, Mercer
Ques Glover, Jr., G, Samford
Tyzhaun Claude, Jr., F, Western Carolina
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford
 
All-Freshman Team
Madison Durr, G, The Citadel
Jah Quinones, G, Mercer
Asher Woods, G, VMI
Tyler Houser, C, VMI
Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford