COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Darington Hobson always believed he could make an immediate impact for a rising New Mexico team.
New Mexico's standout swingman was named Mountain West player of the year Monday, along with the Lobos' Steve Alford earning coach of the year honors. Hobson, a junior college transfer, became the first to be named player of the year and newcomer of the year.
"My teammates and coaches are really the main reason I got this award," Hobson said. "I wish I could break it down in pieces and give it to each and every one of them."
Hobson averages 15.8 points per game and led the Mountain West in rebounding, averaging 10.1 boards in league games. He averages 4.6 assists and remains on track to become the first player ever to lead New Mexico in all three categories.
But Hobson seems able to do anything on the court, whether it's swishing a 3-pointer or finding an open teammate with a pass. He had arguably the Mountain West's play of the year, blocking BYU's Noah Hartsock in the closing seconds to preserve New Mexico's 83-81 victory in Provo on Feb. 27.
Alford was named coach of the year for the second straight season after leading the No. 8 Lobos (28-3) to the outright league title. New Mexico has tied a school record for victories and won 14 straight going into this week's Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas.
Joining Hobson as first-team All-Mountain West members are BYU's Jimmer Fredette, New Mexico teammate Dairese Gary, San Diego State freshman Kawhi Leonard and UNLV's Tre'Von Willis.
BYU's Jonathan Tavernari was named sixth man of the year while Utah's 7-foot-3 center, David Foster, was defensive player of the year. The All-Defensive team featured Gary, Willis, Foster, BYU's Jackson Emery and Chase Stanback of UNLV.
BYU junior guard Jackson Emery was named to the second team, while Tavernari and BYU freshman Tyler Haws were joined on the third team by Utah junior Carlon Brown.
Utah senior Luka Drca and freshman Marshall Henderson earned honorable mention.
The 6-7 Hobson joined the Lobos after two seasons at College of Eastern Utah. He fit in quickly but has excelled over the past six weeks in New Mexico's drive to the Mountain West title, averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 11.3 rebounds.
In the win over TCU that secured New Mexico's first outright league title in 16 seasons, Hobson had 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists -- his 12th double-double of the season and seventh over the past eight games.
Thirteen student-athletes make their first appearance on the all-Conference list this season, while the remaining two are repeat selections from last season.
Alford collected his second MWC coaching honor after guiding the Lobos to their second consecutive and first outright Mountain West regular-season title.
Foster, a 7-3, 255-pound sophomore center from Lake Forest, Calif., averaged a league-best 3.7 blocks per game against Mountain West Conference opponents. He recorded a block in 14 of the 15 conference games he played in this season, including a dozen outings with multiple rejections. Foster's 55 blocks in Mountain West play ranks third all-time on the league's single-season charts.
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