Palacios Named Preseason All-BIG EAST
October 25, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 25, 2006
NEW YORK - University of Louisville junior forward Juan Palacios was selected to the 10-player Preseason All-BIG EAST Team by the league's head coaches, while junior forward/center David Padgett earned Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention during Wednesday's BIG EAST Media Day activities in New York City.
Pittsburgh center Aaron Gray, the 2005-06 BIG EAST Most Improved Player, has been named the 2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year by a vote of the league's head coaches. Syracuse freshman forward Paul Harris was tabbed BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year.
A 7-0 senior, Gray averaged 13.9 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Panthers, who finished 25-8 last season. His rebound mark led the BIG EAST. In league games, he won the rebounding crown with a 10.6 average and was first among conference players in field goal shooting, hitting at a 57.2 clip. A native of Emmaus, Pa., Gray led all BIG EAST players with 17 double-doubles.
Gray is the fourth Pitt player to earn BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year recognition. The others were Charles Smith in 1986-87, Jerome Lane in '87-88 and Brandin Knight in '02-03.
In addition to Gray, the 10-player Preseason All-BIG EAST Team was selected. A pair of Georgetown junior standouts, forward Jeff Green and center Roy Hibbert, were unanimous selections along with Marquette sophomore guard Dominic James.
Green and Hibbert were second team All-BIG EAST selections last season. Green, a 6-9 forward, is an all-around contributor. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Hibbert, a 7-2 center, averaged 11.6 points, 6.9 boards and 1.6 blocks.
James was the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year in 2005-06. He averaged 15.3 points in all games and was even more productive in league play, averaging 16.4 points. James is the league's top returning scorer. The 5-11 guard also averaged 5.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
Villanova's Curtis Sumpter was on last year's Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, but he never had the opportunity to play because he tore an ACL in the preseason. Two seasons ago, the 6-7 forward averaged 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Palacios of Louisville, Terrence Roberts of Syracuse and Lamont Hamilton of St. John's are a trio of productive power forwards. Palacios, a 6-8 junior, posted averages of 10.2 points and 6.3 rebounds. Roberts, a 6-9 senior, averaged 10.7 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds. Hamilton is a 6-10 senior, who led the Red Storm with a 12.6 scoring average and a 7.6 rebounding mark.
DePaul has two players on the preseason squad, senior guard Sammy Mejia, who is the BIG EAST's second top returning scorer after averaging 15.1 points last season, and 6-8 sophomore forward Wilson Chandler, who averaged 10.6 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds.
Connecticut's Jeff Adrien earned preseason recognition despite the fact that he averaged only 16 minutes per game and started only once last season. The 6-7 forward made the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team while averaging 6.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Syracuse's Harris was ranked in the top 10 nationally by some recruiting services. The 6-5 forward was a second team selection on the USA Today All-USA Team. He played on the USA Junior Select Team at the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit. Harris has already been picked as the national newcomer of the year by Blue Ribbon and Athlon magazines.
2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh
2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Paul Harris, Syracuse
2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
*Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh (Player of the Year), C, Sr., 7-0, 270, Emmaus, Pa.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, So., 6-7, 245, Brookline, Mass.
Wilson Chandler, DePaul, F, So., 6-8, 210, Benton Harbor, Mich.
Sammy Mejia, DePaul, G, Sr., 6-6, 195, Bronx, N.Y.
*Jeff Green, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-9, 235, Hyattsville, Md.
*Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, C, Jr., 7-2, 283, Adelphi, Md.
Juan Palacios, Louisville, F, Jr., 6-8, 245, Medelin, Columbia
*Dominic James, Marquette, G, So., 5-11, 175, Richmond, Ind.
Lamont Hamilton, St. John's, F, Sr., 6-10, 253, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Terrence Roberts, Syracuse, F, Sr., 6-9, 235, Jersey City, N.J.
Curtis Sumpter, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Brooklyn, N.Y.
*unanimous selection
2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
David Padgett, Louisville, F/C, Jr., 6-11, 250, Reno, Nev.
Colin Falls, Notre Dame, G, Sr., 6-5, 200, Park Ridge, Ill.
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse, G, So., 6-4, 175, Bay City, Mich.
