March 11, 2008

IRVING, Texas ----- UAB junior guard/forward Robert Vaden has been selected as the 2008 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, league officials announced on Tuesday. The Indianapolis, Ind. native becomes the first UAB player in school history to earn the accolade.

"This is a terrific honor for Robert Vaden," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "Robert is a special player and he is having a great season. I am glad the coaches and media rewarded him because he is very deserving of this honor."

Vaden, who was selected as a First Team All-C-USA honoree on Monday, is arguably having one of the best seasons in UAB history. He already surpassed the school's single-season three-pointers made (138) and attempted (327) records, as well as the single-season scoring record for a junior (655). He is also threatening single-season school marks in scoring average (21.8), scoring (655) and free throw percentage (87.0).

The Indiana University transfer leads the team and ranks third in Conference USA with 21.8 points per game. Vaden leads the league and the nation in threes made, attempted and per game average (4.6). He also leads C-USA in minutes per game (35.0), is third in free throw percentage (87.0) and fifth in three-point shooting (42.2).

Vaden and his UAB teammates will play the winner of Tulsa and East Carolina in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Conference USA Tournament. The game will tip off at Noon CT on Thursday and will be aired on CSS.

Here is a full listing of the conference awards announced Tuesday by the league office.

2007-08 CONFERENCE USA ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Tirrell Baines, Marshall, F, 6-6, 210, Fr., Laurens, S.C.

Randy Culpepper, UTEP, G, 5-10, 160, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.

Papa Dia, SMU, F, 6-9, 250, Fr., St. Louis, Senegal

R. L. Horton, Southern Miss, G, 6-0, 175, Fr., Jackson, Miss.

Derrick Rose, Memphis, G, 6-3, 190, Fr., Chicago, Ill.

2007-08 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Derrick Rose, Memphis, G, 6-3, 190, Fr., Chicago, Ill.

2007-08 CONFERENCE USA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Antonio Anderson, Memphis, G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Lynn, Mass.

Mark Dorris, Marshall, G, 6-2, 180, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio

Joey Dorsey, Memphis, F, 6-9, 265, Sr., Baltimore, Md.

Jerome Jordan, Tulsa, C, 7-0, 235, So., Kingston, Jamaica

Dave Noel, UCF, G, 6-3, 205, Sr., Boynton Beach, Fla.

2007-08 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Joey Dorsey, Memphis, F, 6-9, 265, Sr., Baltimore, Md.

2007-08 NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Robert Vaden, UAB, G/F, 6-5, 225, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.

2007-08 SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR

Randy Culpepper, UTEP, G, 5-10, 160, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.