March 30, 2010

LEXINGTON, KY – University of Kentucky freshmen DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall have been named First Team All-America by the Associated Press.

It marks the first time ever that two freshmen teammates were named to the first team and they are only the ninth pair of teammates to make the first team.

Cousins was second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 ppg while posting a team-best 9.8 rpg average, all in only 23.5 minutes per game. He destroyed the UK freshman rebounding record by nearly 100 rebounds and scored the second most points by a UK freshman, behind teammate and fellow honoree John Wall.

The SEC Freshman of the Year also led the Wildcats in double-doubles this season with 20, the most by a UK player since 1973 and the fourth most in a season in Kentucky basketball history.

Wall led the Wildcats in scoring (16.6), assists (6.5) and steals (1.8) while setting the school single season assist record with 241. The Adolph Rupp National Player of the Year recorded five double-doubles on the season, three in points and assists and two in points in rebounds, making him the first player in UK history to record double-doubles in points and rebounds and points and assists.

Patrick Patterson received Honorable Mention status after averaging 14.3 ppg and 7.4 rebounds. Patterson ended his junior season ranked 13 th on UK’s all-time scoring list with 1,564 points. He totaled nine double-doubles on the season, pushing his career total to 30, sixth most on UK’s all-time double-double list.

Cousins and Wall are the first AP first-teamers for Kentucky since Ron Mercer in the 1997 season and the third AP All-Americans in the last two seasons. Jodie Meeks was awarded second team honors last season.