A Decade of Dominance: West Georgia Wolves Basketball (2010-2019)
The University of West Georgia Wolves basketball program has a rich history of talented players and successful teams. This article will look back at the decade from 2010-2019, highlighting some of the most outstanding athletes who left their mark on the program.
All-Decade Team Standouts
The West Georgia Wolves' Men's Basketball Team of the Decade (2010-2019) was filled with exceptional talent, including All-Americans and Gulf South Conference (GSC) Players of the Year. These players not only excelled individually but also contributed significantly to the team's success during their time at UWG.
Deonta Stocks (2013-15)
Deonta Stocks is arguably the top player of the decade. The Atlanta native, captured the all-decade team's top spot. The 2015 Gulf South Conference Player of the Year, Stocks had the numbers and honors to capture the all-decade team's top spot. Over his two-year career, he averaged an impressive 22.3 points per game. Stocks was a two-time All-GSC selection, earned NABC All-District honors, and was named a Division II All-America selection. He was also known for his clutch performances, as demonstrated by his game-winning floater in his first game for West Georgia against Shorter, securing an 82-81 victory.
Marquill Smith (2017-19)
Marquill Smith, the 2019 GSC Player of the Year, was a scoring force for the Wolves. The Florida native amassed 1,378 points in his 55 games at UWG, averaging 25.1 points per game. He was a two-time conference scoring champion and a two-time All-GSC selection. In his senior year, Smith earned All-District and All-America honors and was selected to play in the Division II All-Star Game.
Da'Ron Sims (2010-12)
Da'Ron Sims, inducted into the University of West Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, was a dominant presence in the paint for the Wolves. The California native earned All-Gulf South Conference honors twice and, as a senior, received All-District and All-America accolades. He led UWG to a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
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Key Contributors to Team Success
While the All-Decade Team was filled with stars, several other players made significant contributions to the Wolves' success during this period.
Alex Abreu (2014-15)
Alex Abreu, a native of Puerto Rico, was the floor general for West Georgia's 2015 NCAA Tournament team. In his single season with the Wolves, he averaged 16.7 points per game and led the team with 140 assists, including a season-high eight assists on two occasions.
Iakeem Alston (2015-16)
Iakeem Alston, from Baltimore, was a crucial component of UWG's 2016 Gulf South Conference title and NCAA Tournament team. He led the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game and in assists with 113. Alston was named Most Outstanding Player in the GSC Tournament, becoming only the third player in UWG history to receive this honor.
Steph Branch (2015-17)
Steph Branch, a California native, was known for his explosive athleticism. A two-time All-Gulf South Conference performer, Branch helped lead UWG to a GSC title and an NCAA Tournament berth as a junior.
Gavin Field (2008-12)
Gavin Field, an Australian player, left his mark on the UWG record book as a consistent performer and prolific three-point shooter. He ended his career as the school's all-time leader in three-pointers made and surpassed the 1,000-point mark. Field also holds the record for the most games played in UWG history.
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Marcus Dortch (2014-15)
Marcus Dortch, from Cobb County, was a versatile offensive player who contributed to back-to-back NCAA Tournament squads. He averaged 10.2 points per game on UWG's 2015 tournament team. The following year, he averaged 8.5 points per game and shot 43% from three-point range for UWG's Gulf South Conference title team.
Zach Taulien (2011-16)
Zach Taulien, another Australian player, made his mark as a three-point specialist. He made 197 three-pointers in his career, finishing his time at UWG as one of the Top 10 three-point shooters in program history.
Thomas Higginbotham (2011-15)
Thomas Higginbotham, from Snellville, made an immediate impact at West Georgia. In 2011-12, he became the first UWG player to be named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year in men's basketball.
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