March 2, 2005

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Senior Southeast Missouri State University basketball player Derek Winans has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America basketball team as selected by CoSIDA.

Winans, who was a second team selection last year, was named to the first team in 2005. He has a 3.977 cumulative grade point average while majoring in business.

"It is awesome to be honored as a first team academic All-American," Winans said. "The recognition is a reward for all of the hard work I have put in not only on the court but in the classroom."

Winans joins Eric Castro of Southern Methodist, Will Emerson of Mercer, Johannes Herber of West Virginia and Chris Hill of Michigan State on the first team. He is the first Southeast basketball player to ever be named first team academic All-America.

"This is a tremendous honor for Derek and there certainly is not a more deserving student-athlete in the country," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "There are over 3,000 athletes playing Division I basketball and Derek is one of the top five when you combine playing ability and academic success."

Originally from East Cape Girardeau, Ill. and a graduate of Shawnee High School, Winans has moved up to fifth on the all-time career scoring list at Southeast. He has 1,498 points to rank as the second leading active career scoring leader in the OVC. Winans is eighth on the all-time assist list at Southeast with 280.

Winans did not start practice until Monday, Nov. 29, because of a stress fracture in his leg. He gradually worked his way back into playing shape. He got his first start of the season on Jan. 8 at Tennessee Tech.

In addition to being second in active career scoring in the OVC, Winans leads the active career leaders in 3-pointers made with 218, ranks third in steals with 153, fourth in assists with 280 and 11th in rebounding with 273.

Winans streak of having started 84 consecutive games ended at the season opener at Bradley. He has been Southeast's top scorer for each of the last three seasons and became the school's first ever basketball Academic All-American when he earned second team honors last season.

Southeast defeated Murray State on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament with Winans scoring 10 points. The Redhawks will play Eastern Kentucky in the tournament semi-finals on Friday, 8 p.m., at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU.