James Jones Named Academic All-American

March 6, 2003

Coral Gables, FL (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami senior forward James Jones (Miami American) has been selected to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-America second-team.

Jones, a two-time Verizon Academic All-District selection, is the first UM basketball player to earn Verizon Academic All-America distinction.

Jones, who carries a 3.405 cumulative GPA in finance, has started all 26 games at power forward this season for the Hurricanes and is averaging 17.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

He currently ranks second on the team in scoring while leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots. He has recorded 24 double-figure scoring games, including a team-high nine games of 20-or-more points, and a team-high three double-doubles. He has led the team in scoring 13 times and in rebounding 14 times.

Jones (6-8, 225) is a three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and was named a 2001 Arthur Ashe Scholar Athlete.

First TeamName             School         Year  Hometown            GPA     MajorMatt Bonner      Florida        Sr.   Concord, N.H        3.98    Business AdministrationClint Cuffle     Evansville     Jr.   Riverton, Ill.      3.77    EngineeringAdam Mark        Belmont        Jr.   Bremen, Ind.        3.94    Computer ScienceEmeka Okafor     Connecticut    So.   Houston, Texas      3.73    FinanceBrett Starkey    Denver         Jr.   Lakewood, Colo.     3.96    Biology/Pre-Medicine

Second TeamName School Year Hometown GPA MajorDavid Bennett Marist Sr. Salt Lake City, UT 3.99 Business AdministrationJason Blair San Diego Sr. Phoenix, Ariz. 3.59 Business AdministrationAdam Hess William & Mary Jr. Grosse Point, MI 3.51 FinanceJames Jones Miami (Fla.) Sr. Miami, Fla. 3.40 FinanceMichael Lindeman Creighton Jr. Iowa Falls, Iowa 3.92 Finance

Third TeamName School Year Hometown GPA MajorDedrick Dye Wagner Sr. Clinton, Tenn. 3.72 Business AdministrationCarl English Hawaii Jr. Patrick’s Cove, Can.3.28 Liberal StudiesBlake Stepp Gonzaga Jr. Eugene, Oregon 3.21 Business AdministrationJake Sullivan Iowa State Jr. Oakdale, Minn. 3.33 PsychologyChris Hill Michigan State So. Indianapolis, Ind. 3.90 UndecidedJason Parker Tulsa Jr. Tulsa, Okla. 3.57 Management Information Systems

Verizon Academic All-American of the Year: Matt Bonner, Florida