March 10, 2008
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland's James Gist (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel) and Greivis Vasquez (Caracas, Venezuela) were both named to the 2008 All-ACC Second Team Monday (March 10). Gist, who earned honorable-mention plaudits as a junior, was also named to the ACC All-Defensive Team.
Vasquez leads the team and is fourth in the ACC in scoring with 17.5 points per game. He leads the league in assists per game (6.81 apg) and ranks ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.53). Vasquez also made his mark on the glass as well, averaging 5.6 rebounds to rank 20th in the ACC. His 4.65 defensive rebounds were 20th in the league. He has scored in double figures in 29 of Maryland's 31 games this season and has dished out at least five assists in 23 games.
As a freshman in 2006-07, Vasquez earned honorable mention ACC All-Freshman honors. This season he was named ESPN.com's National Player of the Week on February 11 after averaging 19.0 points and 11.5 assists in wins over Boston College (70-65) and NC State (84-70). Vasquez narrowly missed just the second triple-double in school history when he finished with 13 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds against the Wolfpack.
Gist is second on the team and ninth in the ACC in scoring (15.7 ppg). He ranks fourth in the ACC in rebounds (7.9 rpg) and field goal percentage (.494). Gist is second in the ACC with 2.20 blocked shots per game and 6.20 defensive rebounds. He was named the ACC Player of the Week on January 21 and garnered Sporting News' National Player of the Week honors February 11.
Vasquez and Gist become the first tandem of Terrapins to earn at least second-team honors in the same season since Steve Blake (first team) and Drew Nicholas (second team) in 2003.
Gist scored in double figures 22 times and pulled down at least five rebounds in 26 games. He tallied five double-doubles this year and posted a career-best 31 points at Wake Forest February 28.
Gist and Vasquez were joined on the second team by North Carolina's Wayne Ellington, A.D. Vassallo of Virginia Tech and K.C. Rivers of Clemson. Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Tyrese Rice (Boston College), Sean Singletary (Virginia), Jack McClinton (Miami) and DeMarcus Nelson (Duke) were named All-ACC First Team.
Joining Gist on the All-Defensive Team were Nelson, Toney Douglas (Florida State), Tyrelle Blair (Boston College) and Marcus Ginyard (North Carolina.)
Maryland (18-13, 8-8 ACC) returns to action Thursday (March 16) when the Terps take on Boston College (13-16, 4-12 ACC)in the first round of the 2008 ACC Tournament at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network, and will be televised by Raycom Sports.
