San Diego State Aztecs Xavier Thames named AP Honorable Mention All-American

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego, CA- San Diego State Aztecs Xavier Thames has been named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American. Thames is the fourth Aztec in the last four seasons to be named an Associated Press All-American. Kawhi Leonard was named second-team all-american in 2011 after the Aztecs (34-3) Sweet 16 season. Jamaal Franklin was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American in 2012 and 2013 for the Aztecs before leaving for the NBA Draft last season.

Thames the Mountain West Player of the Year, was the eighth player in school history to be named conference player of the year, the fifth to be named to the all-defensive team and the first player in the program’s history two win both in the same season.

Thames was the heart and soul of this team and the Aztecs would’t be where they are as a team this season and as a program if it wasn’t for the play of Thames throughout his three years as an Aztec. This season Xavier Thames lead the Aztecs in scoring with 17.8 points per game, assists, steals, three-pointers (23) and free-throw percentage, as the Aztecs had one of its greatest seasons in program history with a record of (31-5), won the Mountain West regular-season championship and reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in school history and the second in the last four seasons. The Aztecs 31 win’s were the second-most in program history, finishing second behind the 2011 (34-3) Sweet 16 San Diego State Aztecs team.

Thames carried the Aztecs on his back in the NCAA tournament, scoring 30 points against North Dakota State to lead the San Diego State Aztecs to the Sweet 16. Overall Thames averaged 26.0 points in the NCAA Tournament, which lead all players in scoring in the NCAA Tournament.