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Gonzaga’s Clarke, Hachimura

named Wooden

All-Americans

Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura were both named to the John R. Wooden Award All-American Team. The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced the team Wednesday.

The Wooden Award All American Team is made up of 10 student-athletes who were the top vote-getters in the quest to earn college basketball’s most prestigious honor. The ten-player team, alphabetically, consists of: Clarke, Hachimura, RJ Barrett (Duke), Carsen Edwards (Purdue), Markus Howard (Marquette), De’Andre Hunter (Virginia), Ja Morant (Murray State), Grant Williams (Tennessee), Zion Williamson (Duke), and Cassius Winston (Michigan State). The five players who are invited to Los Angeles for the Wooden Award presentation during the ESPN College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s are: Barrett, Morant, Williams, Williamson, and Winston.

Hachimura was tabbed the 2019 West Coast Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 19.7 points per game this season, shooting 59.1 percent from the field. The junior added 6.5 rebounds per game and finished with 27 blocks this season. He made 63.5 percent of his shots from the field in conference play, which ranked fourth in the league.

Hachimura scored in double-digits in 35 of the Zags’ 37 games this season, reaching 20 or more points 21 times. He had four double-doubles in 2018-19. The Toyama, Japan, native scored a career-high 33 points against Idaho State.

Clarke was named the West Coast Conference Defender and Newcomer of the Year. He was also tabbed First Team All-WCC and selected to the USBWA District IX Team. Clarke’s 117 blocks are the most in the country, while his 3.16 blocks per game ranks third. He broke the conference single-season record, and now ranks sixth in program history for most blocks in a career, with all 117 blocks coming this season. The Phoenix, Ariz. native, finished second in league history with 52 blocks in conference action.

Clarke tops the nation shooting 68.7 percent from the field, which is also set a new WCC record. He led the conference, and is ninth in country, making 70.5 percent of his shots inside-the-arc. The redshirt junior averaged 16.9 points per game, which was seventh in the WCC, and 8.6 rebounds per outing, which is third in the league. He led the conference averaging 3.08 offensive rebounds per game.

Voting took place from March 18-25, allowing voters to take into consideration the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

As insisted upon by Coach Wooden at the Award’s creation 43 years ago, all players were certified by their universities as meeting or exceeding the criteria of the John R. Wooden Award.

Perkins to

compete in

College 3-point championship

CHICAGO — Gonzaga’s Josh Perkins has been selected to the 3-Point Championship roster for the 31st annual State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships at Minneapolis’ Target Center tonight.

Perkins is one of eight men’s college basketball players selected for the event that will air live on ESPN at 6 p.m. PDT. He was invited to take part in the 3-Point Championship after being recognized as one of the nation’s finest shooters from 3-point territory.

Perkins made 53 three-pointers in 2018-19, shooting 36 percent from behind-the-arc. He finished his incredible GU career with 251 made three-pointers, which ranks fifth all-time in program history. The Park Hill, Colo. native, ended his collegiate career with a 38.6 three-point field goal percentage. He averaged 11 points per game during his senior season. Perkins broke Gonzaga’s career (712) and single-season (234) assist records in 2018-19.

The night features the Great Clips Slam Dunk Championship, the State Farm Men’s 3-Point Championship, the Rocket Mortgage Women’s 3-Point Championship and the Applebee’s Team Shootout. The winners of the Men’s and Women’s 3-Point Championships will then compete in the Reese’s Puffs Battle of the Champions.

Roderick Howell of Division II North Greenville earned a spot in the Slam Dunk Championship by winning the “Dark Horse Dunker” competition, a digital media fan-voting contest. After 280,895 fan votes were cast over four weeks, Howell was selected to compete in the contest.

Over the last 30 years, several of the top players in college basketball have competed in the College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships including: Gary Payton, Steve Nash, Jason Terry, Kyle Korver, Bobby Hurley, Michael Finley, Allan Houston, Wesley Matthews, Yogi Ferrell, Cappie Pondexter, Katie Gearlds, Kristi Toliver, Tiffany Hayes and Ariel Atkins.

Tonight’s participants include:

STATE FARM MEN’S 3-POINT CHAMPIONSHIP — David Crisp, Washington; Clayton Custer, Loyola Chicago; Mike Daum, South Dakota State; Corey Davis Jr., Houston; Fletcher Magee, Wofford; CJ Massinburg, Buffalo; Josh Perkins, Gonzaga; BJ Taylor, UCF.

GREAT CLIPS SLAM DUNK CHAMPIONSHIP — Jordan Davis, Northern Colorado; Roberto Gallinat, Pacific; Jamall Gregory, Jacksonville St.; Roderick Howell, North Greenville; Khalil Iverson, Wisconsin; DaQuan Jeffries, Tulsa; Marlain Veal, Southeastern Louisiana; Josh Webster, Missouri State.

ROCKET MORTGAGE WOMEN’S 3-POINT CHAMPIONSHIP — Sophie Cunningham, Missouri; Natisha Hiedeman, Marquette; Presley Hudson, Central Michigan; Kiara Leslie, NC State; Darby Maggard, Belmont; Maci Morris, Kentucky; Taylor Pierce, Idaho; Danni Williams, Texas.