After helping the Knights to 21 regular-season victories, junior forward Keith Clanton (Orlando, Fla.) of the UCF men’s basketball team was named to the All-Conference USA First Team Monday. Clanton becomes just the second Knight to earn all-conference first-team honors since UCF joined C-USA in 2005, joining Jermaine Taylor (2008-09).

One of five players selected to the All-C-USA First Team, Clanton ranks eighth in the league in scoring at 15.0 points per game and fifth in rebounds per contest (8.4). In conference games, he paced C-USA in blocks per contest (2.0) and ranked sixth in scoring (14.6) and fifth in offensive rebounds (2.9).

During the regular season, Clanton led the Knights in scoring on 15 occasions and had eight 20-point performances. The former Orlando Christian Prep star also registered seven double-doubles.

Last season as a sophomore, Clanton garnered All-C-USA Third Team recognition.

In 2011-12, Clanton became UCF’s all-time leader in blocked shots (161) and also joined the school’s 1,000-career points club (1,229).

UCF finished the regular season 21-9 overall and 10-6 in C-USA. The Knights tied for third in the league standings and earned one of four first-round byes at the C-USA Championship. The No. 4 seeded Knights will open the event in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday at 10 p.m. Eastern with a quarterfinal matchup against either No. 5 UAB or No. 12 Tulane.

2011-12 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM

  • Will Barton, Memphis, G, 6-6, 175, So., Baltimore, Md.
  • Keith Clanton, UCF, F, 6-8, 245, Jr., Orlando, Fla.
  • Jordan Clarkson, Tulsa, G, 6-4, 195, So., San Antonio, Texas
  • Cameron Moore, UAB, F, 6-10, 230, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
  • Ricky Tarrant, Tulane, G, 6-0, 170, Fr., Pleasant Grove, Ala.