Tulane’s Ricky Tarrant picked to C-USA team

NEW ORLEANS — Ricky Tarrant, a sophomore for the Tulane men’s basketball team, was named to the 2012-13 preseason first-team All-Conference USA team, it was announced by the league office on Thursday.

The preseason honors were selected by the league’s 12 coaches.

Tarrant is coming off one of the most successful freshman season in Tulane history. The Pleasant Grove, Ala., native was named the 2011-12 Conference USA Freshman of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection after leading the Green Wave with 14.9 points per game and 102 assists. He also earned seven Freshman of the Week honors during the season, including twice after scoring a freshman, conference and school-record 33 points against both SMU and UAB.

“This is a nice honor for Ricky,” Tulane coach Ed Conroy said. “It is always good to see these guys getting the recognition they deserved from their performances last season. We know that these are just preseason honors and there is still a lot of work to do to get ready for the season.”

Tarrant was joined on the preseason team by East Carolina’s Miguel Paul, Marshall’s DeAndre Kane, Memphis’ Tarik Black and the preseason Player of the Year Keith Clanton of UCF.

The Green Wave opens the season on Nov. 9 in Atlanta when it faces Georgia Tech in a rematch of last season’s 57-52 Tulane victory. Tulane’s first home game is Nov. 13 against Bethune-Cookman as part of the Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic.

2012-13 preseason all-CUSA

FIRST TEAM

Miguel Paul, East Carolina, G, 6-1, 170, Sr.

DeAndre Kane, Marshall, G, 6-4, 195, Jr.

Tarik Black, Memphis, F, 6-9, 262, Jr.

Ricky Tarrant, Tulane, G, 6-2, 190, So.

Keith Clanton, UCF, F, 6-8, 250, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Dennis Tinnon, Marshall, F, 6-8, 232, Sr.

Chris Crawford, Memphis, G, 604, 218, Jr.

Joe Jackson, Memphis, G, 6-1, 171, Jr.

Adonis Thomas, Memphis, F/G, 6-6, 242, So.

Neil Watson, Southern Miss, G, 5-11, 160, Jr.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Keith Clanton, UCF, F, 6-8, 250, Sr., Orlando, Fla.