March 4, 2007

Irving, Texas - Mizzou junior guard Stefhon Hannah (Chicago, Ill. / Hyde Park / Chipola C.C.) received multiple honors from the Big 12 Conference Coaches on Sunday, when the talented point guard was named a unanimous selection for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, a Third Team All-Conference pick and a member of the league's All-Rookie Team.

Hannah becomes the first Tiger to earn individual recognition from the Big 12 Conference since Kareem Rush garnered Big 12 Freshman of the Year accolades in 2000. In addition, Hannah is the fifth Tiger all-time to earn a conference Newcomer of the Year award and the first to accomplish the feat since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996-97. Willie Smith (1975), Stan Ray (1976), Steve Stipanovich (1980) and Anthony Peeler (1989) each won Big Eight Newcomer of the Year honors. Hannah's Third Team All-Big 12 honor equaled Thomas Gardner's Third Team recognition last season and his All-Rookie Team pick is the first in school history. This is the second season the Big 12 Conference has awarded an All-Rookie unit.

Hannah was without question one of the Big 12's most valuable players to his team in 2006-07, leading his club in scoring 14 times, assists 20 times and rebounding twice. A native of Chicago, Ill., Hannah is among the nation's leaders in steals with 71 and needs just six more thefts throughout the remainder of the season to break the MU single-season record. Also fourth in the Big 12 with 135 assists, Hannah currently ranks No. 9 all-time in Mizzou single-season history and his career high 13 dimes vs. Coppin State on Nov. 27 are the most in a regulation affair. Melvin Booker also dished 13 assists for Mizzou in a triple-overtime win against Illinois in 1993.

"I believe it's a tribute to Stefhon and the hard work he has put forward throughout the season," Head Coach Mike Anderson said. "It's also a tribute to our team and the steady progress this group has made from the start of practice in October. It's a great honor for Stefhon and our program."

One of the league's most versatile performers, Hannah is the lone player in the Big 12 Conference to record both a point-assist and point-rebound double-double this year. A three-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week honoree (a Mizzou record), Hannah had 12 points and 13 assists in a win over Coppin State and enjoyed 17 points and a career high 10 boards at Nebraska.

"It's great honor, one that I appreciate, but I really have to pass the awards off to my teammates," Hannah said. "Without their support, this doesn't happen. We were able to win a few games this year and team success leads to these types of awards. That's what makes this truly a team honor."

Hannah has been a driving force for a much-improved Missouri squad this year under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Anderson. Coming off a 12-16 campaign, Mizzou's worst since 1967-68, and returning just 37 percent of the team's scoring, Hannah helped the Tigers to an 18-11 regular-season record and a sixth-place finish in the Big 12 standings. The six-game improvement for MU was the most in the Big 12 this season and was the most for a first-year Missouri head coach in school history. In addition, the 18 overall wins for Anderson tied the MU record for wins by a first-year head coach and his next win this season will break the previous record of 18 set by Quin Snyder in 1999-2000.

Hannah and the Tigers return to action on March 8 in the opening round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla. The sixth-seeded Tigers face No. 11 Baylor at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

"It's going to be tough on Thursday," Hannah said about playing the Bears for the second time this season. "Baylor is a great team and they have several guards that can really play. They are a complete team and (Kevin) Rogers was real tough down low the first time we played them. We will have to come out and step up our game."

The winner of the Mizzou - Baylor opening-round game faces No. 3-seeded Texas at 8:20 p.m. on March 9.

2006-07 PHILLIPS 66 ALL-BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Durant, Texas

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Mario Chalmers, Kansas Marcus Dove, Oklahoma State

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
**Stefhon Hannah, Missouri, G, Jr., 6-0, 175, Chicago, Ill./Chipola CC/Hyde Park

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
**Kevin Durant, Texas, F/G, Fr., 6-9, 225, Suitland, Md./Montrose Christian

SIXTH MAN AWARD
Cartier Martin, Kansas State, G/F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Houston, Texas/Nimitz

COACH OF THE YEAR
Billy Gillispie, Texas A&M

All-Big 12 First Team
Brandon Rush, Kansas Julian Wright, Kansas Mario Boggan, Oklahoma State Kevin Durant, Texas** Acie Law, Texas A&M** Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech

All-Big 12 Second Team
David Hoskins, Kansas State Cartier Martin, Kansas State Aleks Maric, Nebraska D.J. Augustin, Texas Joseph Jones, Texas A&M

All-Big 12 Third Team
Mario Chalmers, Kansas Stefhon Hannah, Missouri Nate Carter, Oklahoma JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State Martin Zeno, Texas Tech

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
Aaron Bruce (Baylor), Curtis Jerrells (Baylor), Richard Roby (Colorado), Mike Taylor (Iowa State), Darrell Arthur (Kansas), Sherron Collins (Kansas), A.J. Abrams (Texas), Josh Carter (Texas A&M), Antanas Kavaliauskas (Texas A&M)

Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Mario Chalmers, Kansas Russell Robinson, Kansas Marcus Dove, Oklahoma State Kevin Durant, Texas Dominique Kirk, Texas A&M

Big 12 All-Rookie Team
Wesley Johnson, Iowa State Darrell Arthur, Kansas Sherron Collins, Kansas** Stefhon Hannah, Missouri Kevin Durant, Texas** D.J. Augustin, Texas**

** - Unanimous Selection Ties in the voting created additional spots for Defensive Player of the Year and on the first team and all-rookie team

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