March 5, 2009
Named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year on Monday, Santa Clara senior center John Bryant picked up another honor on today when he was named to the NABC District 9 All-District First Team. He is the first Bronco to be named to the All-District First Team since two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash was named for the second straight year in 1996. Santa Clara has only had 12 All-District First Team honorees since 1953. Bryant will now be eligible for the State Farm Coaches' Division I All-America teams to be announced on Sat., April 4 as part of the NABC Convention in Detroit at the Final Four.
At the WCC Tournament this weekend in Las Vegas, Santa Clara will play the winner of the San Diego-LMU game on Sat., March 7 at 6 pm in the Orleans Arena.
Bryant broke the single season blocks (76, his own record, 2008) and single season rebounds record (409 Dennis Awtrey, 1970) at SCU in February. He also moved up to No. 6 on the all-time Bay Area rebounds list and No. 6 in the Bay Area in a single season. He is 20 rebounds from tying Awtrey's career school record of 1,135 boards.
He is ranked No. 1 in the country in offensive efficiency (bbstate.com). Bryant is No. 1 nationally in rebounds per game, No. 12 in field goal percentage, No. 15 in blocks nationally, and No. 68 in points per game (March 2). He leads the country in total rebounds (430), setting the single season school record vs. Portland. He is tied with Oklahoma's Blake Griffin as the nation's leader with 24 double-doubles and is the national leader with five 20+ point/20+ rebound games - including two in the month of February. His 48 career double-doubles are No. 2 of active players nationally.
Bryant is the first player in Bronco history to score 1,600+ points, gather 1,100+ rebounds and block 200+ shots. The No. 7 center nationally as ranked by Rivals.com, he collects 18.0 ppg and 13.9 rpg in 31.0 mpg this season; and is knocking down 60.7% of his shots, averaging 2.5 bpg.
This season Bryant leads the WCC in all games in field goal percentage, rebounds, defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds and blocked shots; and he is No. 3 in scoring. In WCC games, Bryant led the conference in field goal percentage, rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, blocks; and was No. 2 in scoring. Bryant's 15.1 rpg average in WCC games is the highest clip in the WCC since former San Francisco standout Bill Cartwright averaged 16.1 rpg during the 1978-79 season. Bryant was named the WCC Player of the Week three times this year.
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA ALL-DISTRICT HONOREES
09-John Bryant (1)
01-Brian Jones (2)
97-Marlon Garnett (2)
96-Steve Nash (1)
95-Steve Nash (1)
91-Rhea Taylor (2)
88-Jens Gordon (2)
86-Steve Kenilvort (2)
85-Harold Keeling (1)
85-Nick Vanos (1)
82-Bill Duffy (2)
80-Londale Theus (2)
80-Kurt Rambis (1)
79-Londale Theus (2)
78-Kurt Rambis (3)
78-Eddie Chavez (2)
77-Kurt Rambis (3)
73-Mike Stewart (1)
72-Mike Stewart (3)
69-Dennis Awtrey (1)
69-Bud Ogden (1)
68-Dennis Awtrey (3)
68-Bud Ogden (2)
63-K.C. Jackson (3)
60-Jim Russi (3)
60-Frank Sobrero (1)
59-Frank Sobrero (2)
55-Ken Sears (1)
54-Ken Sears (1)
54-Jim Young (2)
53-Ken Sears (HM)
(1) First Team selection
(2) Second Team selection
(3) Third Team selection
(HM) Honorable Mention