July 1, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky two-way star AJ Reed and Florida softball standout Hannah Rogers have been named 2013-14 Roy F. Kramer Southeastern Conference Male and Female Athletes of the Year, in a voting by the league’s athletics directors, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced on Tuesday.
“AJ and Hannah are true examples of outstanding student-athletes,” Slive said. “They have competed at the highest level of collegiate athletics, and through their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence, have been successful in their endeavors. They are fine representatives of their universities and this conference. The SEC is proud to honor them for their accomplishments.”
Reed, a native of Terre Haute, Ind., has been named National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association, the College Player of the Year by Baseball America and won the 2014 Dick Howser Trophy, presented by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He also won the John Olerud Award, given to the top two-way player in the nation.
A consensus first-team All-America selection and the 2014 SEC Player of the Year, Reed had one of the most decorated seasons in the history of college baseball. The national leader in homers (23), slugging (.735), and OPS (1.211), Reed also led the conference in wins (12), RBI (73), walks (49), total bases (164) and on-base percentage (.476).
Reed is the first player in SEC history to lead the conference in homers and pitching victories and is seeking to become the third player in league annals to be named a unanimous national player of the year, joining Dave Magadan (1983) and David Price (2007). He finished his season with more homers than 185 teams in college baseball, including six league schools.
Reed becomes the seventh former Kentucky star to be voted SEC Athlete of the Year, joining Anthony Davis (2012), Tim Couch (1999), Female Athlete of the Year Jenny Hansen (1995), Jamal Mashburn (1993), Kyle Macy (1980) and Jack Givens (1978). Reed is one of five baseball-specific players to ever earn SEC Male Athlete of the Year, joining Price (2007), Kip Bouknight (2000), Todd Helton (1995) and Will Clark (1985). Two-sport stars Bo Jackson (1986) and Buck Belue (1982) also earned the honors while playing football and baseball.
The other male nominees were: Robby Shelton, Alabama (golf); Jarrion Lawson, Arkansas (track & field); Tre Mason, Auburn (football); Scottie Wilbekin, Florida (basketball); Aaron Murray, Georgia (football); Aaron Nola, LSU (baseball); Nik Scholtz, Ole Miss (tennis); Brandon McBride, Mississippi State (track & field); Michael Sam, Missouri (football); Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina (football); Hunter Reese, Tennessee (tennis); Deon Lendore, Texas A&M (track & field); Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt (football).
The other female nominees were: Kim Jacob, Alabama (golf); Katherine Grable, Arkansas (gymnastics); Branndi Melero, Auburn (softball); Laura Ryan, Georgia (swimming & diving); Dezerea Bryant, Kentucky (track & field); Rheagan Courville, LSU (gymnastics); Rafaelle Souza, Ole Miss (soccer); Ally McDonald, Mississippi State (golf); Molly Kreklow, Missouri (sand volleyball); Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina (basketball); Madison Shipman, Tennessee (softball); Breeja Larson, Texas A&M (swimming); Simone Charely, Vanderbilt (track & field/soccer).
UK’s nominee for female athlete of the year was Bryant, who enjoyed the best season by a female sprinter in UK history. She became UK’s first NCAA Indoor 200m Champion in 2014, and was also the SEC 60m dash champion. She broke six school records, and earned three medals at the SEC Outdoor Championships.
The SEC Athletes of the Year Awards were first presented in 1976 for men and 1984 for women. The award was renamed the Roy F. Kramer Athletes of the Year in 2004 to honor the former commissioner who served the conference from 1990-2002.
Past recipients of the SEC Athlete of the Year Award include:
2013 – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (football) and Allison Schmitt, Georgia (swimming)
2012 – Anthony Davis, Kentucy (basketball) and Brooke Pancake, Alabama (golf)
2011 – John-Patrick Smith, Tennessee (tennis) and Kayla Hoffman, Alabama (gymnastics)
2010 – Mark Ingram, Alabama (football) and Susan Jackson, LSU (gymnastics)
2009 – Tim Tebow, Florida (football) and Courtney Kupets, Georgia (gymnastics)
2008 – Tim Tebow, Florida (football) and Candace Parker, Tennessee (basketball)
2007 – David Price, Vanderbilt (baseball) and Monica Abbott, Tennessee (softball)
2006 – Xavier Carter, LSU (track & field) and Seimone Augustus, LSU (basketball)
2005 – Ryan Lochte, Florida (swimming) and Kirsty Coventry, Auburn (swimming)
2004 – Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) and Jeana Rice, Alabama (gymnastics)
2003 – Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) and LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State (basketball)
2002 – Walter Davis, LSU (track & field) and Andree’ Pickens, Alabama (gymnastics)
2001 – Matias Boeker, Georgia (tennis) and Amy Yoder Begley, Arkansas (cross country/track)
2000 – Kip Bouknight, South Carolina (baseball) and Kristy Kowal, Georgia (swimming)
1999 – Tim Couch, Kentucky (football) and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball)
1998 – Peyton Manning, Tennessee (football) and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball)
1997 – Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) and Trinity Johnson, South Carolina (softball)
1996 – Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) and Saudia Roundtree, Georgia (basketball)
1995 – Todd Helton, Tennessee (baseball) and Jenny Hansen, Kentucky (gymnastics)
1994 – Corliss Williamson, Arkansas (basketball) and Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming)
1993 – Jamal Mashburn, Kentucky (basketball) and Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming)
1992 – Shaquille O’Neal, LSU (basketball) and Vicki Goetze, Georgia (golf)
1991 – Shaquille O’Neal, LSU (basketball) and Daedra Charles, Tennessee (basketball)
1990 – Alec Kessler, Georgia (basketball) and Dee Foster, Alabama (gymnastics)
1989 – Derrick Thomas, Alabama (football) and Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee (basketball)
1988 – Will Perdue, Vanderbilt (basketball) and Dara Torres, Florida (swimming)
1987 – Cornelius Bennett, Alabama (football) and Lillie Leatherwood-King, Alabama (track and field)
1986 – Bo Jackson, Auburn (football) and Jennifer Gillom, Ole Miss (basketball)
1985 – Will Clark, Mississippi State (baseball) and Penney Hauschild, Alabama (gymnastics)
1984 – Terry Hoage, Georgia (football) and Tracy Caulkins, Florida (swimming)
1983 – Herschel Walker, Georgia (football/track and field)
1982 – Buck Belue, Georgia (football/baseball)
1981 – Rowdy Gaines, Auburn (swimming)
1980 – Kyle Macy, Kentucky (basketball)
1979 – Reggie King, Alabama (basketball)
1978 – Jack Givens, Kentucky (basketball)
1977 – Larry Seivers, Tennessee (football)
1976 – Harvey Glance, Auburn (track and field)
