ARLINGTON, Texas - Preseason honors keep rolling in for UT Arlington junior forward Kevin Hervey.

After receiving recognition as the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year yesterday, the Arlington native is included on the preseason watch list for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He also received recognition as one of the top players in the state when he was named to the Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball All-Texas College Team.

Hervey averaged 18.1 points and 9.8 rebounds through the first 16 games last season before suffering a knee injury prior to the team's Sun Belt contest against Arkansas State. The Mavericks were 13-3 at the game with non-league wins over Ohio State and Memphis and ranked as high as 27th in the NCAA's ratings percentage index.

UTA is the favorite to win the Sun Belt title, according to the annual preseason poll of league coaches released yesterday. The Mavericks return all five starters and 10 letterwinners that accounted for 87 percent of their scoring and 86 percent of their rebounding last season. The team won a program-high 24 games and posted an impressive 13-2 home record in College Park Center.

Junior guard Erick Neal earned first team preseason all-Sun Belt honors by league coaches and has been listed by several publications as one of the outstanding point guards in the nation. Senior guard Jalen Jones started 34 games last season and, along with forward Jorge Bilbao, played a major role following Hervey's injury to help the Mavericks lead the nation in rebounds per game.

Fifth-year senior guard Drew Charles and Bilbao have a combined 185 career appearances and 123 starts, while Kaelon Wilson averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game in 12 starts toward the end of the season.

UT Arlington opens its season on Nov. 12 with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Texas Southern that will serve as a signature event during the University's popular homecoming weekend. After that, the Mavericks are on the road for three games in five days at Minnesota, Florida Gulf Coast and Arkansas.

Season, single game and group tickets are available through the UTA Box Office online at UTATickets.com, by calling (817) 272-9595 or by visiting College Park Center during weekday business hours.