Marshall University Athletics
J.R. VanHoose Named Verizon Academic All-American
3/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
J.R. VanHoose Named Verizon Academic All-American
3/11/2002
J.R. VanHoose is Marshall's Fifth Verizon Academic All-American |
STAMFORD, Conn. - Marshall University?s J.R. VanHoose has been named a Verizon Academic All-American. The Paintsville, Ky., native, joins former Marshall standout Mike D?Antoni as the only men?s basketball players in school history to earn the honor.
VanHoose, a History major, maintains a 3.44 grade point average and was selected to the Verizon Academic All-America Third Team. The 6-10 center/forward concluded a stellar career last week in Marshall?s second-round tournament loss to Kent State. He finishes his career second all-time at Marshall and fifth all-time in Mid-American Conference history with 1,088 rebounds. He also stands as MU?s fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,083 career points. Over the last four years, VanHoose, recorded more double-doubles (points and rebounds) than any other player in the nation (55).
Mike D?Antoni earned First-Team CoSIDA/GTE Academic All-America honors in 1972 and 1973. VanHoose joins D?Antoni, former volleyball star Jaki Copeland (1985), former football standout Chad Pennington (1999 & 1998), and former women?s basketball star Kristina Behnfeldt (1998-1999) as the only athletes in Marshall history to be named to CoSIDA/Verizon Academic All-America Teams.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Verizon Academic All-America program, which was founded by CoSIDA in 1952 to recognize collegiate student-athletes for their outstanding achievements in the classroom and on the playing field. Over the past 50 years, the Verizon Academic All-America program has grown into one of the most recognized and prestigious collegiate scholar-athlete awards nationwide, honoring student-athletes from all NCAA championship sports.
A complete list of the Verizon Academic All-America Men?s Basketball Teams is attached.
The Verizon Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon the national level.
Under an agreement with CoSIDA, Verizon has been the exclusive sponsor of the Academic All-America program since 1985. Verizon, as America?s Literacy Champion, strongly believes that literacy is a key ingredient to success and outstanding achievements in life. The Academic All-America program is an integral part of Verizon Reads, the ?umbrella name? for a national campaign of corporate philanthropy, partner collaboration, community outreach, and customer and employee participation.
