SAN BRUNO, CA., —The WCC announced the 2003-04 all-conference men’s basketball team on Mon., Mar. 1. The University of Portland men's basketball team had two players recognized as first-time honorees. Sophomore Pooh Jeter was a first-team all-WCC selection, while teammate Dreshawn Vance was selected to the WCC all-Freshman squad.

"Pooh (Jeter) is a young man that has continued to improve," said Head Coach Michael Holton. "He came to us as a player that can do a lot with the dribble and creates shots for himself. He has developed himself into a more pure point guard type in running our team and making other players better. At the same time, he is continuing to grow in terms of his ability to score and I am proud of him for moving into the all-WCC realm. He’s also a young man that wants to be the best he can be. He is driven, and understands that there is a lot of room for improvement in his game. I think the best of Pooh is still yet to come."

Gonzaga’s Blake Stepp became the fourth straight Bulldog to be named the WCC Player of the Year as the WCC All-Conference Team was announced today by the league office. Stepp is the first back-to-back recipient since Santa Clara’s Steve Nash (1995 and 1996).

This year’s Defensive Player of the Year in the WCC is Loyola Marymount’s Sherman Gay.

Coach of the Year honors go to Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few for the fourth straight season.

This season the WCC implemented the Newcomer of the Year award and named a five-person all-freshman team. The Newcomer of the Year for 2004 is San Diego’s Brice Vounang.

Please click on the link above for the full WCC release.