Joaquim named first-team All-District
Vander Joaquim earned a prestigious honor for the Hawai’i basketball team today, when he was named to the 2012 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 6 first team.
The 6-foot-10 junior center from Luanda, Angola, led the Warriors in scoring with 14.3 points per game, and rebounding with 9.5. He also topped the team with a .560 field goal percentage and 58 blocked shots. Earlier this month, he was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference first team and WAC All-Defensive Team.
Joaquim posted a team-high 12 double-doubles, including six performances with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. His 20-point, 13-rebound performance last week against Idaho helped lift Hawai’i to its first WAC Tournament win since 2005.
A two-time WAC Player of the Week honoree this season, Joaquim ranks sixth-all-time in blocks (98) at Hawai’i and his seven blocks at Nevada earlier this year was just one short of tying the school record.
The last Hawai’i player to be named first-team All-District was Michael Kuebler in 2004. Other previous Hawai’i players to earn first-team All-District honors are Aaron Strayhorn (1980 and 1981), Chris Gaines (1990), Anthony Harris (1996), Anthony Carter (1997), Predrag Savovic (2002) and Carl English (2003).
The NABC separates teams into 24 districts, and each district featured five players on the first team and five on the second team. Hawai’i is a member of District 6, which includes other WAC teams such as Nevada and New Mexico State, as well teams from the Big Sky Conference.
As an All-District selection, Joaquim is now eligible to be selected to the NABC All-America teams, which will be announced on March 20.
Nevada’s Deonte Burton, Montana’s Will Cherry, Weber State’s Damian Lillard and New Mexico State’s Wendell McKines joined Joaquim on the 2012 NABC All-District 6 first team.
Second-team members included Weber State’s Scott Bamforth, Utah State’s Preston Medlin, Portland State’s Charles Odum, Fresno State’s Kevin Olekaibe and Nevada’s Malik Story.
The selections are made by coaches who are members of the NABC.
Congratulations Vander. Work hard in off season and come back even stronger. Your growth as a basketball player in one year has been amazing. Now continue to mature, emotinally, physically and grow in compassion and heart.
Good Work!!
too bad vander didn’t have another big body next to him..from 6’10 to 6’7” didn’t help him defensively…amis and vander played together this past season could’ve done some damage…damn ronnie stevens lol
Congratulations, Vander (and Team & Coaches …)
Come Back even Better (again) and Be One of the Key Senior Leaders on a (Potentially) Very Good Team … Have an Awesome off-season esp in international play and a Senior Season to remember and build on ….
Other Big Men ? Here’s to getting more competition for rebounds from his own teammates than other teams’ bigs … IF Joston gets it ’bout Defense & Boards.
Already On Board, Christian Standhardinger + The Physicality of incoming Caleb Dressler and Isaac Fotu …