TSU's Griffin garners SWAC honors

(STATS) - Leaping high to catch passes during football season was just a warmup to what Texas Southern's Derrick Griffin would do for the Tigers' basketball

(STATS) - Leaping high to catch passes during football season was just a warmup to what Texas Southern's Derrick Griffin would do for the Tigers' basketball team.

The 6-foot-7 freshman was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference's player of the year, defensive player of the year and newcomer of the year in a vote by its head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members Monday.

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Also a first-team all-conference selection, Griffin helped TSU (17-13, 16-2) to the SWAC regular-season title, averaging 13.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in 24 games. He has set the conference records for consecutive double-doubles (12) and in a season (17).

During his rookie football campaign, Griffin caught 36 passes for 709 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was a finalist for the STATS FCS Freshman of the Year Award.