BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State men’s basketball player Kai Williams earned Division I All-Independent second team honors and All-Newcomer team honors for his efforts during the 2006-07 season.

A starter in 29 of the Jackrabbits 30 games and the only freshman on the first, second or newcomer team, the 6-5, 205lb true freshman forward from Regina, Saskatchewan earned the honors after averaging team highs with 12.1 points, 6.5 rebounds per game and a 50 percent shooting average (130-of-258) from the field, including 33 percent (25-of-76) from three-point range.

Williams led the Jackrabbits in scoring in eight games, rebounds in 14 games and tallied three double-doubles. He also led the Jacks with 12 blocks.

Improving as the season progressed, Williams averaged 14.9 points per game over the last 15 games of the season and scored 20 or more points three times, including a career-high 24 points on 1/27/07 versus Texas Pan-American.


ALL-INDEPENDENT FIRST TEAM
Brian Burrell – Jr. Guard - Texas-Pan American (5.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 88% FT)
Andre Smith* – Sr. Forward - North Dakota State (17.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 54% FG)
Ryan Toolson – So. Guard - Utah Valley State (5.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 97% FT)
Brett Winkelman – So. Forward - North Dakota State (16.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 52% FG)
Ben Woodside* – So. Guard - North Dakota (16.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.1 apg, 48% FG)

ALL-INDEPENDENT SECOND TEAM
David Heck* – Sr. Forward - Utah Valley State (12.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 43% FG)
Colin Lien – Sr. Center - Texas-Pan American (12.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 60% FG)
Mike Nelson – So. Guard - North Dakota State (15.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 53% FG)
Maurice Sumter* – Sr. Guard/Forward - Longwood (16.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 bpg)
Kai Williams – Fr. Forward - South Dakota State (12.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 50% FG)

*indicates repeat selections to the all-independent team


Honorable Mention: Clayton Barker, NJIT; Jaraun Burrows, IPFW; David Holston, Chicago State; Thomas Juillerat, UC Davis; Joshua Obiajunwa, Savannah State; Royce Parran, Chicago State; DeWitt Scott, IPFW.

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
Brian Burrell – Jr. Guard - Texas-Pan American (15.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 88% FT)
Jaraun Burrows – Jr. Forward - IPFW (8.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 57% FG)
Nesho Milosevic – So. Forward - NJIT (8.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 46% FG)
Joshua Obiajunwa – Sr. Forward - Savannah State (10.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 43% FG)
Kai Williams – Fr. Forward - South Dakota State (12.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 50% FG)

Player of the Year: Andre Smith, North Dakota State
Newcomer of the Year: Brian Burrell, Texas-Pan American
Coach of the Year: Dick Hunsaker, Utah Valley State