Postseason awards: All-Mid-Major Madness First Team

Welcome to awards week at Mid-Major Madness! This week, we’re honoring the best players, coach, and game from the 2018-19 season, continuing today with our All-Mid-Major Madness First Team.

All-Mid-Major Madness Second Team

All-Mid-Major Madness Third Team

Grid View

• Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
• Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
• Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
• Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
• Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Ja Morant, Murray State, So.

2018-19 Stats: 24.5 PPG | 10.0 APG | 5.7 RPG | 1.8 SPG

In the non-Zion division, Ja Morant was college basketball’s most exciting player. Murray State’s do-it-all point guard burst onto the national scene and NBA Draft boards with his electrifying athleticism and ability to dissect defenses all over the floor. The Wooden Award nominee became the first player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game as he led the Racers to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. He tallied three triple-doubles throughout the year and scored in double figures in all but one game. He’ll likely be top-five pick in the NBA Draft, and he’ll leave Murray State as one of the all-time great in-game dunkers. Spend some time on YouTube watching his highlights. It’s worth it.

Mike Daum, South Dakota State, Sr.

2018-19 Stats: 25.3 PPG | 11.7 RPG | 57.9 FG% | 37.0 3PT%

One of the game’s all-time great scorers saved his best season for last. Daum averaged career highs in points, rebounds, field goal percentage and blocks, all while climbing to No. 7 on the all-time scoring leaderboard with 3,067 points to his name. His senior campaign featured 10 games of at least 30 points, 25 games of at least 20 points, and 22 double-doubles. His decision to return to Brookings instead of opting for the grad transfer propelled South Dakota State the Summit League title before being dethroned in the first round of the conference tournament. Daum will be remembered as one of the best scorers in college basketball history and one of the best players from the mid-major ranks in recent memory.

Fletcher Magee, Wofford, Sr.

2018-19 Stats: 20.3 PPG | 41.9 3PT% | 158 3PTM

Wofford was one of the best stories in college basketball this season, thanks in large part to Magee’s sharpshooting prowess. His 158 makes from behind the arc were the most in college basketball and the second most in a single-season. He would go on to break Travis Bader’s career mark to become the game’s all-time leader in threes made with 509 to his name. Magee turned it up a notch in conference play as well as the Terriers ran through the SoCon without a loss. With a scoring average of 22.9 points and a 46.8 percent clip from deep in SoCon games, Fletcher brought home his second straight SoCon Player of the Year award. Wofford earned a 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round behind his seven made threes.

Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga, Jr.

2018-19 Stats: 19.7 PPG | 6.5 RPG | 59.1 FG%

Heading into the season, Rui was tabbed by many as someone who could break onto the national scene. He did just that as he took home WCC Player of the Year honors and helped Gonzaga earn a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In an offense with a bevy of options that would end up being the most efficient in college basketball for most of the season, Hachimura stood out as the go-to guy. He had 21 games of at least 20 points and shot nearly 64 percent during WCC play. He finished No. 10 overall in KenPom’s Player of the Year rankings and will be a first-round pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.

Dylan Windler, Belmont, Sr.

2018-19 Stats: 21.3 PPG | 10.8 RPG | 1.4 SPG | 42.9 3PT%

Windler finished his career at Belmont as yet another dynamic offensive star in Rick Byrd’s offense. The stretch forward improved every year, and finished his senior season by averaging a double-double and hitting over 40 percent of his threes. After his 14 rebounds helped Belmont win its first NCAA Tournament game in program history, he poured in 35 points against Maryland before ultimately coming up short. His 21 games of at least 20 points were highlighted by a 41-point outing against Morehead State, and his 21 games of double-digit rebounds were topped with 21 boards against Austin Peay in the OVC Tournament. He’ll go down as the star senior that helped deliver Rick Byrd an NCAA Tournament win in his final season with the Bruins.

Tomorrow: Freshman of the Year and Game of the Year