Lehigh University Athletics
McCollum named an All-America by two outlets
3/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – C.J. McCollum continues to receive a bevy of recognition for his record breaking first season at Lehigh as the Ohio native was named Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press as well as a Freshman All-America by collegeinsider.com. McCollum becomes Lehigh’s first Associated Press All-America selection since Austen Rowland in 2004 and just the third in school history (Daren Queenan, 1985). The first-year standout, who is the nation’s number-one scoring freshman, was joined on the Freshman All-America squad by student-athletes from the likes of Texas, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Kansas, Syracuse and Arizona among others.
In the last three weeks McCollum has collected a number of accolades, including being named to the Sporting News All-Freshman Team, the NABC All-District First Team, an ECAC Third Team All-Star, the ECAC’s Rookie of the Year and the Sporting News Patriot League Player and Rookie of the Year.
In early March McCollum made history when he became the first player in Patriot League history to be named the league’s Player and Rookie of the Year. McCollum was also named to the All-League First-Team, as well as the All-Rookie Team. That same day the 6-3 guard tied the league mark for the most Rookie of the Week awards with his ninth, tying teammate Marquis Hall (2006-07) and Bucknell’s Kevin Bettencourt (2002-03). With McCollum’s selection to the Sporting News and collegeinsider.com All-Freshman Teams, it marks the second time in the last four years that Lehigh has produced a Freshman All-America. Hall garnered the honor in 2007.
McCollum, who was only the second Lehigh player to be named P.L. Player of the Year (Austen Rowland - 2004) is Lehigh’s third Rookie of the Year in the last four seasons (Hall, Rob Keefer). McCollum, who was also named to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team, led the Mountain Hawks in scoring this season at 19.1 points per game and his 631 points were the most by a freshman in Lehigh and Patriot League history. He also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 42% from three-point range and 81% at the foul line.
McCollum led Lehigh in scoring 19 times in 2009-10 with a season best of 33 in a win over Army. He scored in double figures 29 times, surpassing 20 points on 17 occasions and 30+ points three times. McCollum netted a game-high 26 points in the Mountain Hawks 2010 NCAA Tournament matchup with top-seeded Kansas, giving him nine games of 25 or more points this season, a new school record for freshman.
