Rice Named To Preseason Naismith Award List

Oct. 21, 2002

Coral Gables, FL (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami junior forward Darius Rice (Jackson, MS) has been named one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2002-03 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award.

The Naismith Awards program, now in its 35th year, honors the outstanding college basketball players in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball.

The candidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts. Members of the board were asked to name top male and female players who are most likely to be in contention for the award.

A 2001-02 second-team All-BIG EAST selection, Rice led the team in scoring for the second consecutive season averaging a team-high 14.9 points to go with 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Last season the Hurricanes finished 24-8 establishing a school single-season record for victories and reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

Rice recorded 20-or-more points a team-high 10 times last season including three 30-point games. In addition to his BIG EAST accolades, Rice was also a 2001-02 first-team NABC All-District 6 selection.

Rice, who was named to the preseason Wooden Award list in August, is one of five BIG EAST players on the preseason Naismith list including Troy Bell (Boston College), Brandin Knight (Pittsburgh), Michael Sweetney (Georgetown) and Chris Thomas (Notre Dame).

2002-03 Pre-Season Naismith Candidates(In alphabetical order)

Mario Austin, Mississippi StateTroy Bell, Boston CollegeSteve Blake, MarylandKeith Bogans, KentuckyMatt Bonner, FloridaNick Collison, KansasBrian Cook, IllinoisErwin Dudley, AlabamaChris Duhon, DukeAndre Emmett, Texas TechT.J. Ford, TexasReece Gaines, LouisvilleJason Gardner, ArizonaJarvis Hayes, GeorgiaKirk Hinrich, KansasJosh Howard, Wake ForestJason Kapono, UCLABrandin Knight, PittsburghChris Marcus, Western KentuckyBrett Nelson, FloridaHollis Price, OklahomaDarius Rice, Miami – FLRick Rickert, MinnesotaLuke Ridnour, OregonMike Sweetney, GeorgetownChris Thomas, Notre DameDwayne Wade, MarquetteLuke Walton, ArizonaTravis Watson, VirginiaDavid West, Xavier