FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State's Greg Smith, who powered the low post for the Bulldog men's basketball team as a starter in every game, was honored as one of 20 members on the CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America Team.
"We asked Greg to step in and play right away," head coach Steve Cleveland said of Smith. "He gives us great size and his ability is very special. He is a great person as well. We are all very excited to continue to raise our level of play and compete for a WAC championship next season."
Smith, a center from Fresno, Calif., is the second Bulldog player in team history to earn the Western Athletic Conference's Freshman of the Year award and also grabbed All-Newcomer Team recognition. In 16 conference games, Smith averaged 11.4 points per contest and 5.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. The only other Bulldog to be named WAC Freshman of the Year was Tito Maddox for his play during the 2000-01 season.
Smith ranked in the top 12 in the nation in field goal percentage and tied with sophomore wing Paul George for a team-high four double-doubles. He also averaged 12 points and six rebounds per game throughout his first 33-game Division I campaign.
Rather than assembling first, second, third and fourth teams, the CollegeInsider.com Freshmen All-America Team is one squad consisting of 20 players. Division I coaches and NBA scouts are part of the selection process, but final decision rested with the collegeinsider.com staff.
CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America Team
Avery Bradley, 6-3, Texas
Alec Burks, 6-6, Colorado
Eric Bledsoe, 6-1, Kentucky
D.J. Cooper, 5-11, Ohio
DeMarcus Cousins, 6-11, Kentucky
Derrick Favors, 6-10, Georgia Tech
Chris Gaston, 6-7, Fordham
Elias Harris, 6-7, Gonzaga
Xavier Henry, 6-6, Kansas
Desmar Jackson, 6-5, Wyoming
Kawhi Leonard, 6-7, San Diego State
C.J. McCollum, 6-3, Lehigh
Reggie Moore, 6-1, Washington State
Derek Needham, 5-11, Fairfield
Greg Smith, 6-10, Fresno State
Lance Stephenson, 6-5, Cincinnati
Brandon Triche, 6-4, Syracuse
John Wall, 6-4, Kentucky
Hassan Whiteside, 7-0, Marshall
Derrick Williams, 6-8, Arizona
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