LAKE CHARLES – The honors keep rolling in for the McNeese Cowboys basketball team when on Monday it was named the Major Madness Small College Team of the Year followed on Tuesday with the announcement of Shahada Wells being named to the Major Madness Small Conference All-America First Team.
 
McNeese ended the season at 30-4, one of seven teams in the NCAA to win at least 30 games. The Cowboys, who ranked No. 1 for several weeks in the Major Madness Small College Top 25 poll towards the end of the season, ranked No. 2 in the organization's final poll that came out over the weekend.
 
The Cowboys posted their most successful season in school history as a Division I program, winning the Southland Conference regular season and tournament championship while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 22 years and just the third time ever.
 
McNeese ranked in the top five in the nation in five different categories – 2^nd in scoring margin (17.7), 3^rd in turnover margin (6.7) and winning percentage (88.2), 4^th in field goal percent defense (38.9) and 5^th in steals per game (10.3). The Cowboys also topped the Southland Conference in 13 different stat categories.
 
The Cowboys started the season winning their first four games and were 19-2 at one point with an NCAA-best 14-game winning streak that included a statement win at Michigan for the program's first-ever victory over a Big Ten opponent. McNeese received votes in both the Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls for the first time in school history.
 
McNeese also posted a perfect 18-0 record at home in the Legacy Center and sold out the arena 10 times.
 
Wells, in his first and only season as a Cowboy, earned the SLC's Player and Newcomer of the Year honors as well as garnering the league's Tournament MVP honors.
 
In addition, he was named to the NABC All-District 22 First Team and a finalist for the Lou Henson and Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award. And for being named a finalist for each award, he was recognized as an All-American by each organization.
 
The Amarillo, Texas native who transferred from TCU, Wells averaged 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 3.0 steals per game where he ranked No. 2 in the nation and was third with 98 total steals.
 
A three-time National Player of the Week this season, Wells scored double-figures in 29 games on the year with 12 of those going for 20 or more and three times scoring over 30.
 
He was the only player in the country to average at least 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
 
2023-24 Major Madness All-America
First Team
Shahada Wells, McNeese
Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina
Isaiah Cozart, Eastern Kentucky
Drew Pember, UNCA
Dillon Jones, Weber State
 
Second Team
Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado
JP Pegues, Furman
Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State
Clarence Daniels, New Hampshire
Jalen Blackmon, Stetson
 
Third Team
Duke Miles, High Point
Riley Minnix, Morehead State
Jordan Sears, UT Martin
Achor Achor, Samford
Mervin James, Rider