March 8, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Georgetown University freshman center Greg Monroe (New Orleans, La./Helen Cox) was named to the BIG EAST Conference All-Rookie Team, announced on Sunday afternoon by the league office.
Monroe was joined on the All-Rookie Team by Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates, Connecticut guard Kemba Walker, Louisville forward Samardo Samuels, Rutgers guard Mike Rosario and West Virginia forward Devin Ebanks.
The 6-10, 240-pound center, who was tabbed as the Preseason BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year with Samuels at the annual Media Day in October, is second on the team in scoring with 12.7 points per game and leads the team in rebounding, grabbing 6.6 boards per game. Monroe also leads the Hoyas in field goal percentage (57.3%), blocked shots (1.41 per game), steals (1.83 per game) and is second on the team in assists (2.62 per game)
He ranks among the leaders in the BIG EAST in several statistical categories, standing sixth in steals, ninth in field goal percentage, 10th in blocked shots and 19th in rebounding/
In BIG EAST games, Monroe led the team in scoring with 12.9 points per game, averaged 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals while connecting on 55.9 percent of his field goals. He ranked 28th in the league in scoring, tied for 14th in rebounding, 10th in field goal percentage and fifth in the league in steals.
During the course of the season, Monroe earned three BIG EAST Rookie of the Week Awards. He has scored in double figures 25 times this season and has registered four double-doubles. Monroe scored a career-high 21 points and had 10 rebounds in a loss at Notre Dame and twice posted a career-high of 11 rebounds, first in a win over Providence (along with 13 points and a career-high eight assists) and then in a loss at Syracuse (scoring 16 points).
Monroe has had 20 games this season with at least two assists, 14 games with at least two blocked shots and 15 with at least two steals.
Monroe is the 22nd Georgetown player to be named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. It is the third-straight year a Hoya player has been selected, as sophomore guard Austin Freeman (Mitchellville, Md./DeMatha) was tabbed during the 2007-08 season and junior forward DaJuan Summers (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) was selected during the 2006-07 season.
Georgetown finished the regular season with a 16-13 overall record and a 7-11 mark in the BIG EAST. The Hoyas, seeded No. 12 in the BIG EAST Tournament, will play No. 13 seed St. John's on Tuesday, March 10 in the first round at 2 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.
