Burton, Smith, and O'Bannon Among Trio Named to AAC All-Conference Men's Hoops Teams

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference announced the 2025-26 Men's Basketball All-AAC Team Awards on Tuesday evening from Kingsport, TN. 

Junior Wing Chandler O'Bannon and senior guard Tae Burton were each named to the All-AAC Second Team while O'Bannon was also named to the All-Defensive team. Redshirt freshman Zach Smith was then named to the All-Freshmen team as well. Those three players helped the team and head coach Jake Deer secure the highest conference tournament seed (5th) and most conference wins (10) among any men's team in Columbia College school history. The Koala men have amassed 27 overall wins over their first two seasons.

The awards were voted on and selected by the men's basketball coaches of the AAC.

Burton led the offense for the Koalas averaging 14 points/game on 30.5% shooting from three (50 made threes) with nearly 4.0 rebounds/game and 3.0 assists (8th in AAC). O'Bannon then averaged 11 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 50% with 31 steals, 20 blocks and six double-doubles.

Smith averaged 9.3 points and nearly 4.0 rebounds/game while shooting 56% from the floor and blocking 11 shots.

Eight Koalas made the grade to earn a spot on the All-Academic Team including Burton, senior Alileyon Ford, junior Austin Harrell, sophomore Jaylin McDuffie, sophomore Jordyn McKeen, junior Malik Reynolds, senior Thomas Whitley and junior Jake Wight while Zach Smith was also named to the Champions of Character Team.

The 5th seeded Koalas (13-15, 10-9 in AAC) will open up AAC Tournament play with a Quarterfinal game against 4th seeded Union Commonwealth (13-15, 11-8 AAC) on Thursday morning at 8:30 am from the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, TN.