Brooks, Hall Named Athletes of the Year

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Davidson College forward De’Mon Brooks and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball player Taylor Hall have been named the 2014 Southern Conference Male and Female Athletes of the Year, the league announced today (May 27). Brooks and Hall will be honored in conjunction with the league’s annual Honors Dinner on Wednesday night in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Hall is the eighth female student-athlete from Chattanooga to win the award. She became the first player in league history to be named the Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the Southern Conference tournament in the same season during 2014. Named the league’s Player of the Week on three occasions, Hall was named first team all-conference for the second straight season.

She was the only player in the league to rank in the top five in scoring, rebounding and assists this past season. Hall posted 14 double-doubles as a senior and helped the Mocs win the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament titles.

Hall finished her career 20th on UTC’s all-time scoring list (1,183) and finished eighth in rebounds (814). She worked as a volunteer with the PAWS program in Chattanooga and mentored local youth. Hall graduated with a degree in rehabilitation science and was a four-year member of Chattanooga’s Dean List and athletic director’s Honor Roll.

Brooks is the sixth different Wildcat to win the Male Athlete of the Year Award. He was named the men’s basketball Player of the Year by the both the league’s coaches and media and was tabbed first-team all-conference for the third consecutive season. The Charlotte, N.C, native was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press this past year.

He led the league with 20.5 points per contest in league games and shot 66 percent from the field as Davidson went 20-13 and was 15-1 in SoCon play. Brooks finished his career ranked seventh all-time at Davidson in scoring (1,777), sixth in rebounding (765), fifth in field-goal percentage (.535) and 10th in blocked shots (71). In 125 career games, he scored in double figures 94 times and helped Davidson make four postseason appearances.

A sociology major, Brooks spent time as a coach and summer camp instructor with area youth and also participated in numerous events at Davidson Elementary.

The Athlete of the Year Awards are selected annually by the Southern Conference athletics directors and a media member representing each conference school. The award recognizes athletic achievement, academic performance and civic involvement. Prior to 1990-91, the award was selected solely by members of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. Beginning in 1991-92, the men’s award was named after the late Bob Waters, who was Western Carolina’s head football coach from 1969-88.