Andrew Men's Basketball Takes Home Post-Season Honors

CUTHBERT, Ga. -- The Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Men's DI Basketball coaches selected their All-Region teams, All-Defensive team, along with the Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year for 2018-2019 season, this weekend and Andrew College's Jalin Wimberly, Dereck Lampkin, and Head Coach Justin Newton all nabbed honors. 

Wimberly, a sophomore from Leesburg, GA and Terrell Academy, was named 1st Team All-Region and the GCAA DI Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Wimberly was the Tigers leading scorer and rebounder on the season, averaging 18.4 ppg, which was good for 2nd place in the GCAA, and 6.5 rpg. He was a three-time winner of the GCAA Div. I Player of the Week this season, as well as a NJCAA Div. I Men's Basketball Player of the Week last year. Head Coach Justin Newton commented, "Jalin has been one of the best players in the league all year, and now it's official. He has led us in scoring most nights, but has also backed off, when someone else is hot. Some nights he'll lead us in assists, some nights in rebounds, but he's someone who every team has to plan for every night. He'll have plenty of options for his next two years."

Lampkin, a sophomore from Brunswick, GA and Brunswick High School, was named to the GCAA All-Defensive Team. Lampkin was one of three Tigers to average in double figures this year, putting up 11.5 ppg, while also pulling down 5.8 rebounds per game, but he made his name with his defensive prowess. Newton added, "An absolute glue guy. Tenacious and fearless, he was always assigned to a top scorer, and if someone else got going, he could easily switch over. Every successful team has a Dereck Lampkin." 

Newton has common trait among successful coaches: the son of a coach, having played for his dad, Timmy Newton, in high school. The elder Newton was a 20 year high school coach with 9 State Championships. With previous stops at fellow GCAA member South Georgia State, NCAA Div. II Columbus State (GA), Lee University (TN), and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Newton took on his first Head Coaching position at Andrew. In just the second year of the reinstituted men's basketball program, the Tigers have made program history by setting the season record for wins, and winning the first GCAA Div. I Men's Basketball Regular Season Championship. Newton commented on the award, "My parents gave me a work ethic. Cory (Cory Baldwin, Head Coach at South Georgia State) gave me a start and a philosophy. My team gave me this award."