NEW ORLEANS – Three University of South Alabama men’s basketball players were voted to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team and the Jaguars were picked to finish second in the East Division, the league office announced Wednesday.

The Jaguars’ three selections—junior Augustine Rubit and seniors Javier Carter and Freddie Goldstein—are tied for second most; defending champion Middle Tennessee has four and Arkansas State also has three.

Rubit earns first team honors as the top returning scorer in the SBC. The Houston, Texas native averaged 15.2 points and 9.2 rebounds with 12 double-doubles last season to become the first USA player to be named First Team All-Sun Belt since 2008. His rebounding average led the conference and was 38th in the nation, and he finished second in the league in scoring. The 2010-11 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year already ranks eighth in school history in career rebounds (576) and third in rebounding average (10.1)

South Alabama’s two third team selections led the conference in a statistical category last season. Carter, a Dallas, Texas native, blocked 72 shots, good for 2.7 per game, which also ranked 16th in Division I. His 72 rejections are third in school history and he currently stands in second place at USA in career blocks with 132. He averaged 6.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 2011-12 and recorded two double-doubles.

Joining Carter on the third team is Goldstein, the defending 3-point champion in the Sun Belt. Goldstein converted 2.5 triples per contest last season and was second on the team in scoring at 11.7 per game. He set and later tied the school record for 3s in a game with nine and placed 15th in the conference in 3-point percentage (37.1%). He used his 3-point production to become the first USA player to score 30 or more points in a game twice in a single season since the 2007-08 campaign.

In a poll of the league’s coaches, the Jaguars were voted to finish second in the East Division with 51 points behind Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders garnered all 11 first-place votes and 65 points. Following the Jags are Western Kentucky (47), Florida Atlantic (29), Troy (22) and Florida International (17).

North Texas was the unanimous pick in the West Division with 55 points. Arkansas State (40) was voted second, followed by Arkansas at Little Rock (33), Louisiana at Lafayette (24) and Louisiana at Monroe (13).

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference First Team
Will Neighbour (UALR, Jr., Forward)
Trey Finn (Arkansas State, Sr., Guard)
Marcos Knight (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Guard)  
Tony Mitchell (North Texas, So., Forward)
Augustine Rubit (South Alabama, Jr., Forward)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Brandon Peterson (Arkansas State, Sr., Forward)
Greg Gantt (Florida Atlantic, Sr., Guard)
JT Sulton (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Forward)
Bruce Massey (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Guard)
George Fant (WKU, So., Forward)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Third Team
Marcus Hooten (Arkansas State, Sr., Guard)
Raymond Cintron (Middle Tennessee, Sr., Guard)
Javier Carter (South Alabama, Sr., Forward)
Freddie Goldstein (South Alabama, Sr., Guard)
T.J. Price (WKU, So., Guard)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Tony Mitchell (North Texas, So., Forward)

2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
First Place Votes in Parentheses
EAST DIVISION
1. Middle Tennessee – 65 points (11)
2. South Alabama – 51 points
3. WKU – 47 points
4. Florida Atlantic – 29 points
5. Troy – 22 points
6. FIU – 17 points

WEST DIVISION
1. North Texas – 55 points (11)
2. Arkansas State – 40 points
3. UALR – 33 points
4. Louisiana-Lafayette – 24 points
5. Louisiana-Monroe – 13 points