Noel claims SEC honors

Updated: Tue 3:45 PM, Mar 12, 2013

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's Nerlens Noel has been honored with several Southeastern Conference awards.

The 6-foot-10 forward was named the SEC's freshman and defensive player of the year, along with being named to the all-conference first team and all-freshman squad by SEC coaches.

Sophomore forward Kyle Wiltjer (10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds) was voted sixth man of the year.

Noel, who was scheduled to have surgery Tuesday on his injured left knee, blocked 106 shots in 24 games and leads the nation at 4.42 per game. His single-season total ranks second to Anthony Davis (186) in school history; he set a school single-game record with 12 rejections at Mississippi.

Noel (10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds per game) leads four Wildcats on the rookie team that includes Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress.

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