Joe Jackson of Memphis has been named the 2013 Conference-USA Player of the Year.

Jackson was joined on the C-USA All-Conference First Team by Dwayne Davis of Southern Miss, Tulane's Josh Davis, East Carolina's Maurice Kemp, UCF's Isaiah Sykes and Houston's TaShawn Thomas.

D.J. Stephens of Memphis was named Defensive Player of the Year, while Danuel House of Houston won Freshman of the Year.

C.J. Washington, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College, gave his verbal commitment to sign with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"I liked everything about UAB," Washington said. "The coaches, the school, the players, the community, it's a family-oriented place. I like how the coach was with the players and I like the style of play."

Washington said he'll play either forward position for UAB.

"I can handle it and I can step out and shoot it," Washington said. "I can post up when I need to. My defense has improved a lot and I can guard smaller players. I work hard on everything."

Denzel Watts announced his verbal commitment to Alabama-Birmingham.

“Growing up as a kid, I was always told that hard work is going to pay off,” Watts said. “As a kid you don’t listen but it has all paid off for me, so I just want to thank God for that. God has blessed me with 14 Division I offers and I narrowed it down to three schools.” 

Watts chose the Blazers over Florida State and USC, his other two finalists.

“It’s not all about how everyone hypes it up for you to go to the biggest school that you can,” Watts said. “You have to go where you fit in the most and where you feel the most comfortable and I felt the most comfortable at UAB.”