Marquette University Athletics
Trio Of Golden Eagles Earn All-BIG EAST Accolades
3/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 10, 2008
Milwaukee - Marquette University men's basketball players Lazar Hayward, Dominic James and Jerel McNeal have all been named to the 2007-08 All-BIG EAST Second Team, the league office announced Monday morning.
Only two of the league's 16 programs, Marquette and Connecticut, had three players named to the first and second teams combined.
Hayward, a candidate for the league's most improved player award, is currently averaging 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in an average of 24.9 minutes per outing. He is shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 48.0 percent from behind the 3-point line and ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (.788). Hayward averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 2006-07.
James ranks among the league leaders in assists (8th, 4.33 apg.), steals (7th, 1.77 spg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (7th, 1.88). He is contributing 13.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and was a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection in 2007-08. The junior guard was a first team all-conference selection in 2006-07 and earlier this season surpassed the 1,000-point total for his career.
McNeal, a candidate for the league's defensive player of the year award, currently leads the team with 13.6 points per game and is also chipping in 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest. McNeal leads the league in steals and is 18th in the BIG EAST in scoring. The junior guard was named Preseason All-BIG EAST in 2007-08 and is one of two players to start all 30 games this season.
The Golden Eagles, who have earned the No. 6 seed in the 2008 BIG EAST Championship presented by Aeropostale, open postseason play Wednesday night at 8 p.m. CT versus No. 11 seed Seton Hall.
2007-08 All-BIG EAST First Team
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, So., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis, Ind. Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, Jr., 6-7, 243, Brookline, Mass. *A.J. Price, Connecticut, Jr., 6-2, 187, Amityville, N.Y. *Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, Sr., 7-2, 278, Adelphi, Md. *David Padgett, Louisville, Sr., 6-11, 245, Reno, Nev. *Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, So., 6-8, 251, Schererville, Ind. Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame, Jr., 6-0, 196, Staten Island, N.Y. Sam Young, Pittsburgh, Jr., 6-6, 215, Clinton, Md. Brian Laing, Seton Hall, Sr., 6-5, 215, Bronx, N.Y. Kentrell Gransberry, USF, Sr., 6-9, 270, Baton Rouge, La. Joe Alexander, West Virginia, Jr., 6-8, 230, Mt. Airy, Md.
2007-08 All-BIG EAST Second Team
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, So., 7-3, 263, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown, Sr., 6-1, 188, Harvest, Ala. Draelon Burns, DePaul, Sr., 6-4, 220, Milwaukee, Wisc. Terrence Williams, Louisville, Jr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash. Lazar Hayward, Marquette, So., 6-6, 225, Buffalo, N.Y. Dominic James, Marquette, Jr., 5-11, 185, Richmond, Ind. Jerel McNeal, Marquette, Jr., 6-3, 200, Chicago, Ill. Donte' Greene, Syracuse, Fr., 6-9, 217, Baltimore, Md. Paul Harris, Syracuse, So., 6-5, 228, Niagara Falls. N.Y. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, So., 6-2, 190, Herndon, Va.
2007-08 All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, Fr., 6-7, 250, Pittsburgh, Pa. Geoff McDermott, Providence, Jr., 6-8, 235, New Rochelle, N.Y. Anthony Mason, Jr., St. John's, Jr., 6-7, 209, Memphis, Tenn. Dominique Jones, USF, Fr., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla. Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, Fr., 6-0, 186, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
BIG EAST All-Rookie Team
Mac Koshwal, DePaul, Fr., 6-10, 250, Chicago, Ill. Dar Tucker, DePaul, Fr., 6-4, 210, Saginaw, Mich. Austin Freeman, Georgetown, Fr., 6-4, 225, Hyattsville, Md. *DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, Fr., 6-7, 250, Pittsburgh, Pa. Corey Chandler, Rutgers, Fr., 6-2, 180, Newark, N.J. Justin Burrell, St. John's, Fr., 6-8, 230, Bronx, N.Y. Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, Fr., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y. *Dominique Jones, USF, Fr., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla. *Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, Fr., 6-0, 186, Niagara Falls, N.Y. *Donte' Greene, Syracuse, Fr., 6-9, 217, Baltimore, Md. Corey Fisher, Villanova, Fr., 6-1, 185, Bronx, N.Y.
*denotes unanimous selection
