Garcia Honored on Preseason Wooden All-America Team
August 06, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 6, 2003
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville sophomore forward Francisco Garcia has been named as one of the top 50 preseason candidates for the 2003-04 Wooden Award All-American Team.
The 2003 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Garcia was a double-figure scorer in 21 games, including 13 of the last 17. The 6-7 forward was third on the team in three-point goals, hitting 57-of-134 (.425, third in Conference USA), led the Cardinals in blocked shots (40) and was honored on the 2003 C-USA All-Tournament team.
Garcia won a silver medal as a member of the Dominican Republic men's basketball national team in the 2003 Pan American Games, which were staged in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic fell 89-62 to Brazil in the gold medal game on Aug. 6 as Garcia had 10 points, two rebounds and an assist in 18 minutes of action. It was the first medal earned by the Dominican Republic in men's basketball in the history of the event.
A late addition to the Dominican Republic national team roster, Garcia joined his native country's national team in late July. He came off the bench Monday night to produce 14 points and four steals in 28 minutes of action as the Domincan Republic lost to Brazil in his best effort in the event.
In mid January, the Wooden Award committee will release the midseason top 30. The ten player Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced on March 30. One member of the Wooden Award All-American Team will be selected on Saturday April 10, 2004 as the recipient of the Wooden Award Trophy as the nation's collegiate basketball Player of the Year.
