NABC Release / IUP Reese's All-Star Release

KANSAS CITY, MO - After one of the most celebrated individual seasons and career in program history, Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) capped his time as a member of the IUP men's basketball team by earning a spot on the 2012 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II All-America Team, it was announced Thursday.

Smith, who was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Player of the Year and a first team All-Region selection by the NABC and Daktronics, 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.

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).

12 players were selected to the All-American team, which was voted on by member coaches of the NABC, as Smith is joined by one other player from the Atlantic Region in Charleston (WV) guard PJ Reyes.

In addition, Smith hasbeen 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.