SMU trio earns preseason honors

[PonyPride]

Media Outlets Honor Ross, Simpson and Hopkins

October 3, 2002

DALLAS (SMU) - As the buzz surrounding college basketball begins to swirl, three publications have awarded preseason accolades to SMU basketball standouts Quinton Ross, Patrick Simpson and Bryan Hopkins.

Lindy's has selected Ross, a senior from Dallas Kimball, as its preseason WAC Player of the Year while also calling him the conference's "Top NBA Prospect" and "Most Versatile Player". Lindy's also selected Simpson, a 6-9 sophomore, to its All-WAC second team.

Street & Smith has named newcomer Hopkins, a Dallas Lincoln graduate, its Top Impact Freshman in the WAC and also tabbed the 6-0 guard as one of the Top 100 Freshman in College Basketball. The publication also named Ross to its All-WAC squad, awarding him the WAC's "Best Athlete Award" and listing the 6-6 swingman as one of three "Top NBA Prospects" from the conference.

Basketball News also released its preview, and named Hopkins its WAC Newcomer of the Year while tabbing Ross to the All-WAC squad.

SMU opens basketball practice on Oct. 12, and plays its first exhibition on Nov. 9 against Sport Tours.

[Lanacane]

What about Ryan Hopkins?
Does he get no love from SMU?

[Charleston Pony]

Lanacane: if Bryan turns out to be all that is expected and Ryan finds himself near the end of the bench, Ryan will get plenty of "love" as you put it. Some of the loudest cheers are when the coach gets to clear the bench for "mop-up" time. That will be when Ryan and Dement's son hit the floor and hopefully will mean SMU has earned another blowout victory. I hope we see several of those during the Hopkins brothers tenure at SMU.