Salmons, Rice Earn All-BIG EAST Honors

March 5, 2001

PROVIDENCE, RI – University of Miami junior guard John Salmons (Philadelphia, PA) was named third-team All-BIG EAST and freshman forward Darius Rice (Jackson, MS) was named to the All-Rookie Team Monday morning by a vote of the leagues coaches.

Salmons becomes Miami’s ninth all-conference selection since joining the BIG EAST in 1991-92. He has played every position except center for the Hurricanes and ranks second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) while leading the Hurricanes in rebounding (6.3 rpg), assists (4.1 apg) and steals (1.9 spg).

Salmons ranks among the BIG EAST leaders (conference games only) in scoring (17th – 14.0 ppg), rebounding (17th – 6.3 rpg), assists (9th – 4.38 apg), steals (9th – 1.94 spg), free throw percentage (9th – .824) and assist-to-turnover ratio (11th – 1.43 ratio).

Rice is Miami’s fourth All-Rookie selection and the first since Tim James in 1995-96.

He has started all 26 games this season at small forward and is averaging a team-best 14.6 points per game. He currently ranks third on the team in rebounding (5.0 rpg), second in steals (31) and fourth in blocks (12).

Rice, a 2000-01 NABC/Chevrolet Second-Team All-District 6 selection, scored in double-figures 18 times this season and established UM single game freshman records for points (35), three-point field goals (7) and 30-point games (2).