Nov. 4, 2011

PITTSBURGH--University of Pittsburgh senior guard Ashton Gibbs was named one of 30 candidates nationwide for the prestigious Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award honors the one senior college basketball player who displays numerous accomplishments across four specific areas: classroom, community, character and competition.

From the list of 30 candidates, 10 finalists will be selected midway through the regular season by a national media committee. At that time, the finalists will be placed onto the official ballot which will be distributed through a nationwide voting system. Fan balloting and media selections will determine the recipient of the award.

Pitt's Sam Young (2009) and Aaron Gray (2007) were both named finalists during their respective senior seasons.

A Naismith and Wooden All-America nominee, Gibbs enters his senior season as the preseason Big East Conference Player of the Year by league coaches, Lindy's and Athlon. He also garnered preseason Sporting News All-America Third Team and a Dick Vitale First-Team All-America (Solid Gold) honors.

As a junior, Gibbs earned All-Big East First Team honors and was named an AP All-America honorable mention selection. In 2010-11, Gibbs led Pitt in scoring (16.8 ppg), ranked third nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (49.0), led the Big East in 3-point field goals made (102) and ranked second in the league in free-throw percentage (88.9). Last season, Gibbs became the 39^th player in school history to score 1,000 points in career. Over his first three seasons, Gibbs has totaled 1,207 career points, averaged 12.1 points per game, converted 216 of 490 3-point field goals (44.1 pct.) and hit 233 of 265 free-throws (87.9 pct).

This past summer, Gibbs led the USA Men's Basketball team in minutes played (21.8 mpg) and averaged 11.6 ppg, while helping guide the team to a 7-1 record at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China. In 2009, he led the Under-19 USA Basketball Team to a Gold Medal and undefeated 9-0 record at the FIBA World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand

No. 10 ranked and defending Big East regular season champion Pitt will play its second and final exhibition game of the 2011-12 basketball season when it hosts NCAA Division II and No. 15 ranked Kentucky Wesleyan on Monday, Nov. 7 at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Pitt opens its regular season on Friday, Nov. 11 against Albany at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff for that contest is 7 p.m. The contest will be televised live on Pitt Panthers Television.

2011 LOWE'S SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATES (30)