Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Saint Joseph's University

Saint Joseph's Hawks
Saint Joseph's Hawks
FREE THROW SHOOTING DOOMS HAWKS IN 62-50 LOSS AT PACIFIC

Men's Basketball SJU Athletic Communications

SJU'S NELSON, XAVIER'S SATO NAMED TO WOODEN PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM

PHILADELPHIA 08/07/03)- Saint Joseph's guard Jameer Nelson and Xavier swingman Romain Sato have been named to the John Wooden preseason All-America men's basketball team. Nelson enters his senior season needing just 38 assists to pass Rap Curry (580, 1990-94) and become the all-time assists leader in Saint Joseph's history. The only player to lead the A-10 in assists in consecutive seasons (2000-01, 2001-02), Nelson currently has 543 assists, and his 5.84 assist average is a school record. The 6-0 point guard also has a chance to break the school record for career points. Nelson's career total of 1,435 points leaves him 550 points shy of Bernard Blunt's school record of 1,985 points (1990-95). As a junior, Nelson scored 591 points, which ranks as the fifth- highest single-season total in school history. He averaged 19.7 ppg a year ago en route to earning first-team All-Conference and honorable-mention All-America accolades. As a junior in 2002-03, Sato ranked fifth in the Atlantic 10 in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and sixth in scoring (18.1 ppg) while garnering first-team All-Conference honors. Last season, along with National Player of the Year David West, Sato led the Musketeers to a 26-6 overall record, including 15-1 in conference play, and a second consecutive Atlantic 10 West Division Championship. Xavier advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and finished 12th in the final Associated Press poll. The list announced by the Wooden selection committee is composed of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for the trophy. Only returning players are eligible for the preseason team, although transfers and freshmen as well as other players who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for the Midseason Top 30 list and the National Ballot. The 2004 Award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American team, will be held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Saturday, April 10.
Print Friendly Version