This post was courtesy of the Stanford Athletic Department.
STANFORD, Calif. - Chasson Randle was named an All-Pac-12 First Team selection for the second straight season, as Stanford was represented with three honorees overall among this season's All-Pac-12 award winners.
Fellow seniors Anthony Brown and Stefan Nastic both received honorable mention accolades. The senior tri-captains have also been determined to succeed academically, with each starter currently completing coursework toward their master's degrees and exhibiting strong leadership on the court.
Randle's selection represents the fifth time in six seasons that at least one Stanford player has been included among the conference's first-team honorees. The three all-conference picks are the most for Stanford since 2008, when Brook Lopez (first team), Anthony Goods (honorable mention), Mitch Johnson (honorable mention) and Robin Lopez (honorable mention) were recognized. The conference first started recognizing multi-team status (first, second, honorable mention, etc.) in the 2007-08 season.
Randle, a two-time All-Pac-12 First Team honoree, has been mentioned among the nation's best players throughout the season as a finalist for the following: Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's (20 candidates), Naismith Trophy (30 candidates), Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award (16 candidates) and Senior CLASS Award (10 candidates). A native of Rock Island, Ill., Randle ranks second in the Pac-12 in scoring at 19.1 points per game. In addition to reaching double figures in all but one game, Randle has notched 13 20-point games and three 30-point games.
Randle (2,225 career points) is 112 away from becoming Stanford's all-time leading scorer, trailing only Todd Lichti (2,336) and Adam Keefe (2,319) while ranking sixth all-time in conference history. Also this season, Randle has established school career records for three-pointers (286), field goal attempts (1,676), minutes played (4,525) and is tied with Brown in games played (137).
Stanford's first Academic All-America First Team selection since Dan Grunfeld in 2006, Randle (African and African-American studies major, 3.34 GPA) is set to complete both his undergraduate degree and master's degree in four years. Randle has been accepted into the department of psychology's master's program and is being mentored by Stanford social psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt, recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Fellow Genius Grant.
- - - - - - - - -Brown's impressive all-around game continues to garner national attention. Brown, who has notched five double-doubles, ranks second in scoring (15.1 ppg) and assists (82) but leads the Cardinal in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and three-point shooting (44.6%). Brown is also Stanford's best perimeter defender and regularly tasked with guarding the opponent's top scorer. Brown was named the 2014 Pac-12 Most Improved Player, averaging 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds while making 47.5 percent overall and 45.3 percent from three-point range. Additionally, Brown ranks 13th all-time in school history in points scored (1,468), sixth in three-pointers (205) and fourth in minutes played (3,943).
A native of Fountain Valley, Calif., Brown (communication major, 3.26 undergraduate GPA), a fifth-year senior, is working toward a coterminal M.A. in the media studies program. Brown is a three-time Pac-12 All-Academic recipient and earned NABC Honors Court accolades as a junior.
- - - - - - - - -Nastic has developed into one of best centers in the country and a focal point of the Cardinal offense. His transformation actually started at the end of last season, when Nastic converted 14-18 (77.8 percent) during the NCAA Tournament and 29-34 (85.3 percent) over his final eight games. It's been more of the same this season, with Nastic averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds while reaching double figures in all but four games. Also a very solid free throw shooter (75.2 percent), Nastic leads Stanford with 30 blocks and shares the team lead with five double-doubles.
A native of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, and a fellow fifth-year senior, Nastic (psychology major, 3.10 undergraduate GPA) is progressing toward a coterminal M.A. in the communication program. Nastic is a three-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection and received NABC Honors Court status two years ago.
The postseason gets underway on Wednesday, March 11, at 8:40 p.m. PT as Stanford (18-12, 9-9 Pac-12) squares off against Washington (16-14, 5-13 Pac-12) in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. The winner draws No. 3 seed Utah on Thursday at 8:40 p.m. in the quarterfinals.- - - - - - - - -PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Joseph Young, OregonFRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Stanley Johnson, ArizonaDEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gary Payton II, Oregon StateMOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Hawkinson, Washington StateJOHN WOODEN COACH OF THE YEAR: Dana Altman, Oregon
ALL-PAC-12 FIRST TEAMRondae Hollis-Jefferson, ArizonaStanley Johnson, ArizonaDaVonte Lacy, Washington StateT.J. McConnell, ArizonaGary Payton II, Oregon StateNorman Powell, UCLAChasson Randle, StanfordTyrone Wallace, CaliforniaDelon Wright, UtahJoseph Young, OregonALL-PAC-12 SECOND TEAMAskia Booker, ColoradoElgin Cook, OregonKevon Looney, UCLABrandon Taylor, UtahNigel Williams-Goss, Washington
HONORABLE MENTION (receiving at least three votes): Bryce Alford (UCLA), Brandon Ashley (Arizona),Anthony Brown (Stanford) Josh Hawkinson, Washington State, Shaquielle McKissic (Arizona State), Stefan Nastic (Stanford)
PAC-12 ALL-FRESHMEN TEAMJordan Bell, OregonDillon Brooks, OregonTra Holder, Arizona StateStanley Johnson, ArizonaKevon Looney, UCLAJordan McLaughlin, USCJakob Poeltl, UtahPAC-12 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAMJordan Bell, OregonRondae Hollis-Jefferson, ArizonaT.J. McConnell, ArizonaGary Payton II, Oregon StateDelon Wright, Utah
HONORABLE MENTION (receiving at least three votes): Shaquielle McKissic (Arizona State), Norman Powell (UCLA), Brandon Taylor (Utah)
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