Feb. 28, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina guard Trey Hopkins, who led all league rookies in assists, was one of five players named to the Southern Conference coaches All-Freshman team, the league announced today. The Orlando, Fla., native and Dr. Phillips HS product finished the season ranked seventh overall in assists, dishing out 3.34 per contest.

Hopkins additionally ended the season ranked ninth overall in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.08) and 15th overall in the league by making 1.76 3-pointers per game. While he averaged a mere 7.9 points in 13 non-conference game, his average jumped to 11.0 points per game in conference games to rank 29th, tying All-SoCon pick Logan Kosmalski (Davidson). He scored in double figures in 10 of his 16 league games, including a career-high 25 points at East Tennessee State. He drained seven 3-pointers in the contest and dished out seven assists, while holding All-SoCon pick Tim Smith to 9-of-22 shooting from the field. He bolstered his season assist total by tying a career high with eight in the Cats' 2004-05 regular-season finale versus UNC Greensboro this past Saturday.

Hopkins becomes the 19th Catamount named to the league's All-Freshman team, joining Kevin Martin (2202), Rans Brempong (2001), Jarvis Hayes (2000), Casey Rogers (1999), Stacy Ervin (1998), Anquell McCollum (1993), Tim Ford (1992), Carey Rich (1991), Eric Dailey (1990), David Donerlson (1989), Floyd Showers (1986), Andre Gault (1985), Richard Rogers (1984), Clifford Waddy (1983), Cedric Cokley (1982), Kenny Trimier (1980), Ronnie Carr (1980) and Greg Dennis (1979).

Hopkins and the Catamounts will face Georgia Southern on Wednesday (Mar. 2) at 2:30 pm in the first round of the 2005 Kyocera Southern Conference Championship, played in Chattanooga, Tenn., at The McKenzie Arena. The winner of that contest will face UNC Greensboro on Thursday at 2:30 pm.