Julian Washburn named Conference USA Defensive Player of The Year

Finally Julian Washburn receives the respect and award we all know he has earned, and deserves going back to the last three seasons: The Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

The league announced the 2014-15 specialty awards today, and thanks to his career prowess in shutting down the opponents leading scorer, Washburn also earned his third consecutive All-Conference USA Defensive Team honor as well.

Washburn also becomes the first UTEP player to win the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year award. 

His most notable work this season came against ODU's Trey Freeman who has held to just 6 points, on 3/9 shooting; he also frustrated LA Tech's Alex Hamilton into a 2/12 shooting night during their loss in Ruston.

Even though Washburn is known around the league as an elite defensive stopper, he will finish his UTEP career ranking sixth in scoring and first in school history in minutes played.  Washburn was second on the team with 29 steals, and 18 blocks this season.

Washburn is one of four repeat selections to the All-Defensive Team, while Trey Freeman from Old Dominion was named Newcomer of the year, and Charlotte's Torin Dorn took home Freshman of The Year Honors.

Ju and the Miners head to Birmingham today ahead of their Thursday morning quarterfinal matchup against either FIU or UTSA who meet in the first round Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time live on the American Sports Network.

2014-15 CONFERENCE USA ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Torin Dorn, Charlotte, G, 6-4, 180, Charlotte, North Carolina
Giddy Potts, Middle Tennessee, G, 6-2, 220, Athens, Alabama
Jeremy Combs, North Texas, F, 6-7, 182, Dallas, Texas
Nick Norton, UAB, G, 5-10, 175, Bloomington, Illinois
William Lee, UAB, F, 6-9, 210, Plantersville, Alabama

2014-15 CONFERENCE USA FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Torin Dorn, Charlotte, G, 6-4, 180, Charlotte, North Carolina

2014-15 CONFERENCE USA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM (*repeat selections)
*Pierriá Henry, Charlotte, Sr., G, 6-4, 188, Charleston, West Virginia
Adrian Diaz, FIU, Jr., F, 6-10, 230, Miami, Florida
*Michael Kyser, Louisiana Tech, Sr., 6-9, 205, F, Lancaster, Texas
*Kenneth "Speedy" Smith, Louisiana Tech, Sr., G, 6-3, 180, St. Petersburg, Florida
**Julian Washburn, UTEP, F, 6-7, 205, Sr., Duncanville, Texas

2014-15 CONFERENCE USA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Julian Washburn, UTEP, F, 6-7, 205, Sr., Duncanville, Texas

2014-15 CONFERENCE USA NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Trey Freeman, Old Dominion, Jr., G, 6-2, 175, Virginia Beach, Virginia

2014-15 CONFERENCE USA SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Chris Cokley, UAB, Fr., F, 6-8, 216, Savannah, Georgia