Six State Hoopsters Named To 2003-2004 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A total of six Mississippi State basketball student-athletes have been named to the 2003-04 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll for their respective classroom efforts during the 2003 Spring, Summer and Fall terms. The announcement was made this week by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive from the league's Birmingham-based office.
From MSU's SEC Champion Bulldog squad, Wesley Morgan, Shane Power, Michael Boler and Dennis Buse were named to this year's winter academic roster, while coach Sharon Fanning's Lady Bulldogs were represented by Rebecca Kates and Mamie McKinney.
Led by repeat league honor roll recipient Wesley Morgan, a sophomore center on coach Rick Stansbury's SEC championship team this past year, the Bulldogs put four student-athletes on the 2003-04 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll. A native of Gallatin, Tenn., Morgan has compiled a 3.06 cumulative grade point average in sports communication. On the court, Morgan hit all 12 of his field-goal attempts in making 13 appearances for the 26-4 Bulldogs this past season.
This year's recipient of the inaugural SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, junior Shane Power has maintained a 3.22 cumulative GPA in sports communication. The former Iowa State transfer by way of Crown Point, Ind., averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game for the eighth-ranked Bulldogs this past year, while setting a new single-season school standard by hitting 48.1 percent of his 3-pointers.
Redshirt freshman Michael Boler, who received this year's Academic Award for having the team's highest cumulative grade point average, has compiled an impressive 3.63 cumulative GPA in biological sciences. Veteran walk-on Dennis Buse posted a 3.02 GPA over the previous three semesters combined, while completing his bachelor's degree in marketing last summer and continuing work on his master's in sports administration last fall and this spring.
On the women's side for MSU, this marks the first appearance for junior forward Rebecca Kates. She started in 28 of the 29 games played for the Maroon and White this season, posting 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She also represented MSU on the SEC Good Works Team for the second consecutive year. The Cashion, Okla., native has maintained a 3.01 cumulative grade point average in communications with an emphasis in broadcasting and a minor in public relations.
Sophomore forward Mamie McKinney also earned a first-time appearance on the list this year. McKinney moved into a starting role in her second year for the Maroon and White, posting 5.3 points per game and ranking second on the team averaging 5.8 rebounds per contest. The Tallahassee, Fla., product has compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.04 in business information systems.