Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes and combo player Kelenna Azubuike were named to the 2005 Preseason All-Southeastern Conference team as announced by the league office Thursday. Hayes, a 6-6 senior from Modesto, Calif., was named to the first team, while Azubuike, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., earned second-team honors.

The Preseason All-SEC first and second teams consist of a minimum of eight players on each squad, voted on by the league?s 12 head basketball coaches. No ties were broken and no predicted order of finish was made. There were eight players named to the first team and nine to the second team.

Hayes and Azubuike are the only returning starters on a young Kentucky squad in 2004-05. The Wildcats welcome six newcomers to the roster, including Western Kentucky transfer Patrick Sparks, who joined the squad last year but was forced to sit for the 2003-04 season under NCAA transfer rules. Five freshmen join the Wildcats this season, including three McDonald?s All-Americans.

Both Hayes and Azubuike were named to the SEC All-Tournament team in 2004, while Hayes was a third-team All-SEC selection by The Associated Press in 2004.