Feb. 20, 2003

Duquesne University guard Jimmy Tricco (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) was named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-District 2 Men's Basketball Team released today.

Tricco, a junior psychology major with a 3.85 GPA, is the first Duke to earn All-District honors since Bill Zoph was named to the national team in both 1969 and 1970.

As a member of the District 2 team, Tricco - along with 39 other student athletes from eight districts - will have his name placed on the national ballot, with the 2003 Academic All-America Basketball Team to be released on Thursday, March 6. District 2 consists of NCAA Division I schools from Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Tricco, a 6-8 transfer from Gonzaga, is the only player to start every game for Duquesne this season. He ranks second on the team in scoring (11.0) and leads the team in 3-pointers made (66). Tricco, who has hit five or more 3-pointers in a game six times this season, began the week ranked 21st nationally in 3-point shooting percentage at 43.3%.

Tricco's honor continues a string of academic success for Duquesne student-athletes this school year. Duquesne has had a total of 12 student-athletes named to each of the six Verizon teams announced to date: men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, football and men's and women's basketball.

The Verizon Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member College Sports Information Director's of America. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00.

2003 VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 2 MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

Dan Blankenship Bucknell        Sr.     3.33    AccountingMike Farrell    Lafayette       Jr.     3.29    American StudiesJason Krayl     Monmouth        Jr.     3.589   History/Political ScienceAaron Thomas    Robert Morris   Jr.     3.20    Social ScienceJimmy Tricco    Duquesne        Jr.     3.85    Psychology

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY
2002-03 Verizon Academic All-America Honorees
(12 district, five national)

Men's Basketball

• Jimmy Tricco (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep)
  District 2

Women's Basketball

• Beth Friday (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair)
  District 2

Football

• Jeremy Conley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Allderdice)
  District 2 First Team
• Mike Hilliard (Homer Center, Pa./Homer Center)
  District 2 First Team - National Second Team
• Matt Mrdjenovich (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford)
  District 2 Second Team
• Joe Pavlick (Canton, Ohio/St. Thomas Aquinas)
  District 2 First Team - National Second Team
• Philip Polony (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall)
  District 2 First Team

Women's Soccer

• Lauren Bracco (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hallow Hills West)
  District 2 Second Team

Men's Soccer

• Jason Kutney (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Borough)
  District 2 - National Second Team
• Terry McNelis (Reading, Pa./Exeter Twp.)
  District 2 - National Third Team
• Christian Reinecker (Reading,Pa./Exeter Twp.)
  District 2 - National Second Team

Women's Volleyball

• Sarah Morrow (Baytown, Texas/Robert E. Lee)
  District 2 Second Team