NABC Release

KANSAS CITY, MO – The postseason award season continued Friday as IUP men's basketball players Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) and Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) were both named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Atlantic Region All-District First team.

In addition, Smith was selected to play in the Reese's Division II College All-Star Game on Friday, March 23, at the Kentucky Bank Center at Northern Kentucky University. The All-Star teams are composed of two players from each of the eight regions in Division II with four at-large selections.

Smith, who was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Player of the Year and a first team Daktronics All-Region selection, led the Crimson Hawks to a 23-6 record this season and a berth in the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament for the fourth-consecutive season. He ranked third in the PSAC in scoring at 18.5 points per game, and shot 43.0% from the field this season.

Smith tied for third on the team in rebounding (4.1) and second on the team in steals (37). He was also second on the team in assists, dishing out 3.4 per contest, and scored in double-figures in every game this season.

A four-year starter for the Crimson Hawks, Smith's name is strewn throughout the pages of the IUP record books. He is the all-time leader in career assists (456), and is currently fourth on the all-time scoring list (1,635). Smith holds the IUP record for the most games played in IUP history (127). He ranks fifth in program history in  steals (138) and sixth in made free throws (408).

Sanders has been equally as impressive this season, ranking fifth in the conference in scoring (17.4), and first in made three-pointers (3.1 per game). Sanders was fifth in the PSAC in three-point percentage (42.8), and was an excellent rebounder from the guard position, pulling down 4.1 per contest.

A prolific scorer throughout his time with the Crimson Hawks, Sanders finished his career in third place on the IUP all-time scoring list (1,655) and fourth in career free throw percentage (81.2). Earlier this season, Sanders became the IUP all-time leader in career three-pointers made (333), and his 123 games played at IUP rank third in program history.

Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, these student-athletes represent the finest basketball players across America. The 89 student-athletes who earned All-District honors from the eight districts are now eligible for the NABC Coaches' Division II All-America teams, selected by the NABC.

2012 Reese's Division II All-Star Game Participants

Ryan Aquino, Georgia College | F, 6-8, 230
Stefan Bonneau, C.W. Post | G, 5-10, 165
Scott Dennis, Christian Brothers | G, 6-5, 190
James Ellisor, Bemidji State | F, 6-5, 200
Milton Garner, Cameron | G, 6-1, 200
Ahmad Harris, Bloomfield | G, 5-9, 170
Brandon Hogg, Southern Indiana | G, 6-1, 185
Reggie Jones, Cal State Stanislaus | F, 6-9, 245
Lance Kearse, Eckerd | F, 6-6, 235
Raymont McElroy, West Virginia Wesleyan | G/F, 6-2, 190
Adrian Moss, Indianapolis | G, 5-9, 160
Paul "PJ" Reyes, Charleston (W.V.) | G, 6-5, 190
Taylor Rohde, Alaska-Anchorage | F/C, 6-9, 255
Cody Schilling, Augustana (S.D.) | G, 6-5, 195
Da'Ron Sims, West Georgia | F, 6-6, 215
Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate), IUP | G, 6-2, 195
Keane Thomann, Missouri Southern | C, 6-11, 275
Dwight Tolbert, Lander | F, 6-5, 210
Jon Van Hoose, Northern Kentucky | G, 6-6, 175
Zack Warner, Christian Brothers | C, 6-9, 215
Anthony Young, Kentucky Wesleyan | C, 6-7, 244