CARROLLTON, Ga. - A pair of All-Americans and Gulf South Conference Player of the Year winners topped the list Tuesday as the West Georgia Wolves' Men's Basketball Team of the Decade was revealed. The 10-member squad is made of up of players who starred for the Wolves during the period of 2010-2019.
UWG Men's Basketball Team of the Decade
- Deonta Stocks (2013-15) – The 2015 Gulf South Conference Player of the Year, Stocks had the numbers and honors to capture the all-decade team's top spot. He averaged 22.3 points per game over his two-year career, was twice named All-GSC, earned NABC All-District honors, and was named a Division II All-America selection. Beyond the numbers, the Atlanta native added to his credentials with his flair for late game heroics. In his first game in a West Georgia uniform Stocks hit a floater in the lane for the game winner in an 82-81 at Shorter. However, his biggest moment came a season later in the NCAA South Region Tournament in Lakeland, Fla., as his last-second, baseline runner was the game winner as the Wolves topped West Alabama, 80-79.
- Marquill Smith (2017-19) – The 2019 GSC Player of the Year was a scoring machine during his two seasons in a Wolves' uniform. The Florida native amassed 1,378 points, averaging 25.1 points per game for his 55 games at UWG, and was a two-time conference scoring champion. Also, Smith was a two-time All-GSC selection, as a senior earned both All-District and All-America honors, and was chosen to play in the Division II All-Star Game. He twice topped the 40-point mark; including a career high 48 points in the 2019 win at Auburn-Montgomery.
- Da'Ron Sims (2010-12) – A 2019 inductee into the University of West Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame, Sims was a dominant inside force in a Wolves uniform. The California was twice named All-Gulf South Conference, and as a senior earned All-District, and All-America honors as he led UWG to a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. He also represented the Wolves in the Division II All-Star Game.
- Alex Abreu (2014-15) – The quarterback of West Georgia's 2015 NCAA Tournament, this native of Puerto Rico made an impact in his only season in a Wolves' uniform. He averaged 16.7 points a game during the season, dished out a team high 140 assists, including a season high eight on two occasions. Abreu was voted to the 2015 All-Gulf South Conference Team
- Iakeem Alston (2015-16) – A Baltimore native who was a key to UWG's 2016 Gulf South Conference title and NCAA Tournament team. Alston was the Wolves' leading scorer on the season at 13.7 points per game, and he paced the team in assists with 113. Alston's capped his season by becoming only the third player in UWG history to be named Most Outstanding Player in the GSC Tournament. His tourney highlight was a 25-point performance in UWG's come-from-behind, semifinal win over Union.
- Steph Branch (2015-17) – This California native is among the most explosive athletes to ever wear a West Georgia uniform. Branch was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference performer. As a junior he helped lead UWG to a GSC title and NCAA Tournament berth. His steal and coast-to-coast sprint for a dunk was a key in the title game win over Alabama-Huntsville A year later Branch posted major numbers by scoring 19.6 points and pulling 8.5 rebounds per game.
- Gavin Field (2008-12) – A consistent performer who left his mark on the UWG record book was this native Australian. Field made an impact from his first day in Wolves' uniform, especially as a shooter. He ended his career as the most prolific three-point shooter in school history, and surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career. He also played more games than any player in UWG history. As a senior Field averaged 13.1 points, and over five rebounds per game to help a drive that ended with the Wolves securing a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
- Marcus Dortch (2014-15) – An integral contributor to back-to-back NCAA Tournament squads was this versatile offensive performer. Dortch, a native of nearby Cobb County, was a double-figure scorer on UWG's 2015 tourney team, averaging 10.2 points per game. A year later he averaged 8.5 points per game, and was a 43% three-point shooter for UWG's Gulf South Conference title team. The highlight moment for his senior season was a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the title game win over Alabama-Huntsville.
- Zach Taulien (2011-16) – A native Australian, Taulien shot his way on to the list of the decade's top players. He fired in 197 three-pointers for his career, ending his days at UWG as one of the Top 10 three-point shooters ever at UWG. Beyond shooting, Taulien improved throughout his career and started 27 games for the Wolves' 2016 Gulf South Conference title team.
- Thomas Higginbotham (2011-15) – A Snellville native who made an instant impact at West Georgia. As a newcomer in 2011-12 Higginbotham became the first UWG player to ever be named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year in men's basketball. For his career Higginbotham played in 117 games in a Wolves' uniform, and started 29 games for the 2015 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Honorable Mention All-Decade
Quincy Hill, Jovany Austin, Aren Ulmer, Ryan Godfrey, Keron Briggs, Taylor Cochran
