March 10, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I.-- University of Pittsburgh junior forward Sam Young was named to the All-Big East First Team on Monday following a vote of the league's 16 head coaches. In addition to Young's selection, freshman center DeJuan Blair earned All-Big East honorable mention honors and was a unanimous selection for the Big East All-Rookie Team.

The league will announce its award winners for Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player, Best Defensive Player, Coach of the Year, Sixth Man Award, Rookie of the Year and Sportsmanship awards on Tuesday at a 6 p.m. press conference held at New York's Grand Hyatt Hotel. Young is a candidate for the Most Improved Player Award, while Blair has an opportunity to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

A Wooden and Naismith National Player of the Year candidate, Young becomes the seventh player in school history to earn All-Big East First Team honors. A native of Clinton, Md., Young leads Pitt in scoring (18.0 ppg.) and ranks second in rebounding (6.4 rpg.). He has converted 50.8 (213-419) of his field goal attempts and 42.4 percent (39-92) of his 3-point attempts. Young ranks among Big East leaders in scoring (3^rd) and field goal percentage (11^th).

As only a freshman, Blair becomes Pitt's 11^th All-Big East Rookie Team selection. A three-time Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week and three-time Big East Rookie of the Week honoree, Blair has averaged 12.3 points, 9.5 rebounds per game and has converted 54.3 percent (151-278) of his field goal attempts on the year. Additionally, Blair is ranked among Big East leaders in scoring (28^th), field goal percentage (6^th), rebounding (3^rd), steals (6^th), offensive rebounds (1^st) and defensive rebounds (10^th). He has 13 double-doubles on the year and is pursuing Pitt's season record for most double-doubles during a freshman season held by Sam Clancy (15 in 1977-78). A Pittsburgh native, Blair is also a candidate for Freshman All-America honors.

No. 7 seeded Pittsburgh (22-9, 10-8 Big East) opens Big East Championship competition on Wednesday when it plays No. 10 seed Cincinnati (13-17, 8-10 Big East). The contest will be nationally televised on ESPN.

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