Temple's Will Cummings earns first-team all-AAC

Will Cummings has been the main catalyst for Temple's turnaround season and the senior point guard has been rewarded for his performance.

To no one's surprise, Cummings was named to the first team on the all-American Athletic Conference team, which was voted on by the league's 11 coaches.

Temple junior forward Jaylen Bond was an honorable mention selection.

Even though Cummings' focus is on Friday's AAC tournament quarterfinal against Memphis at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., he was naturally gratified to earn this honor.

"There are a lot of great players and to be named first team is a great honor," Cummings said after Tuesday's practice at the Liacouras Center. "I am thankful for the honor and credit my teammates and wouldn't have done it without them.

He quickly added. "It's a great feeling to be all-conference but I am looking forward to Friday."

Temple coach Fran Dunphy said it couldn't have gone to a more deserving player.

"Not only has he had a great basketball career but a great academic career and has done everything you can ask a young man to do within your program for four years," Dunphy said. "He has been a wonderful representative and comes from a great family and they should be proud of him; we certainly are."

As a first-team choice, Cummings is a candidate for conference player of the year, although that likely will go to either SMU junior guard Nic Moore or Connecticut senior guard Ryan Boatright, the only two unanimous all-AAC choices.

The AAC player of the year will be named on Thursday.

Cummings has been the driving force of a 22-9 Temple team that has reversed its record from last year's 9-22 mark. This season he is averaging 14.1 points, 4.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He also leads the AAC with 2.1 steals per game and is among the league's top defensive guards.

Bond leads the AAC in rebounding (8.3 per game) and is averaging 8.2 points in his first season at Temple after transferring from the Texas. He has also been a major defensive presence.

All-AAC

First Team

Ryan Boatright, G, UConn *

Austin Nichols, F, Memphis

Nic Moore, G, SMU *

Will Cummings, G, Temple

James Woodard, G, Tulsa

Second Team

Octavius Ellis, F, Cincinnati

Markus Kennedy, F, SMU

Yanick Moreira, C, SMU

Louis Dabney, G, Tulane

Shaquille Harrison, G, Tulsa

Honorable Mention

Troy Caupain, G, Cincinnati

Amida Brimah, C, UConn

Daniel Hamilton, G/F, UConn

Jaylen Bond, F, Temple

* - unanimous selection