2018 American Athletic Conference Awards



Defensive Player of the Year

Gary Clark, Cincinnati



Most Improved Player

Melvin Frazier, Tulane



Sixth Man of the Year

Armoni Brooks, Houston



Sportsmanship Award

Gary Clark, Cincinnati



Team Academic Excellence Award

Tulane

The American Athletic Conference announced four individual awards in advance of the 2018 Aaron’s American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship, which runs March 8-11, in Orlando, Florida.Cincinnati senior Gary Clark was voted the American Defensive Player of the Year, while also collecting the conference’s Sportsmanship Award. Clark was a unanimous first team all-conference pick on Monday. The senior is the first player in conference history to claim the defensive player of the year honor twice.For the second straight year, a Tulane student-athlete was selected as The American’s Most Improved Player, as Melvin Frazier collected the accolade.Houston’s Armoni Brooks was voted the SixthMan of the Year in the conference, while Tulane collected The American’s Team Academic Excellence Award.In his senior season, Clark has keyed No. 8 Cincinnati’s defense to an adjusted defensive efficiency rating that is among the 20 best in the 17-year history of the KenPom ratings. Clark’s 8.2 rebounds per game pace The American, while he ranks sixth in blocks (1.3 per game) seventh in steals (1.5). Earlier in the season, Clark became just the fifth player in Cincinnati history with over 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.Off the court, Clark was named the winner of Cincinnati’s prestigious Jean Stephens Award, which is given to the student-athlete who demonstrates a commitment to the team, department and the University; integrity and high ethical standards in all situations; respect