University of Toledo sophomore Rian Pearson has been honored for his play during the 2011-12 campaign by being named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All-District 14 First Team.
The members of the squad, which was voted on by NABC coaches, are now eligible for the NABC Coaches’ Division I All-America teams to be announced Tuesday.
Pearson, who finished third in Mid-American Conference Player of the Year voting and was a second-team All-MAC honoree, is tied for second in the league in scoring (16.4 ppg), third in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and eighth in steals (1.6 spg). He is the only player in the conference to rank in the league’s Top 10 in points, rebounds and steals and is second in the conference with 10 double-doubles. In his first season in a Rocket uniform, Pearson has led UT in scoring on a team-high 15 occasions and in rebounding 28 times (including 17 of last 18 contests).
Joining Pearson as first-team members of the all district squad were Miami senior F Julian Mavunga, Kent State senior F Justin Greene, Buffalo sophomore F Javon McCrea and Ball State senior F Jarrod Jones. Comprising the second team were Ohio junior G D.J. Cooper, Buffalo senior F Mitchell Watt, Akron junior C Zeke Marshall, Bowling Green junior F A’uston Calhoun and Central Michigan sophomore G Trey Zeigler.