March 8, 2010
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard has been named to the Sporting News All-Freshman second team, it was announced on Monday. Leonard is one of 10 freshmen to be honored by the publication.
The 6-7 forward from Riverside, Calif., was placed on the five-member second team after averaging a team-best 12.6 points and 9.6 rebounds to go along with 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals. Leonard has played in all 30 games, starting 29, and is shooting 46.6 percent from the field.
With 14 double-doubles on the season, Leonard ranks third among all Division I freshmen in double-doubles. The two-time Mountain West Conference player of the week also ranks third in the nation in rebounding among all freshmen.
Joining Leonard on the second team is Hassan Whiteside of Marshall, C.J. McCollum of Lehigh, Alec Burks of Colorado and Elias Harris of Gonzaga. The Sporting News' first team, meanwhile, consists of Kentucky's John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, Kansas' Xavier Henry, Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors and Arizona's Derrick Williams.
Leonard is one of four freshmen in the country to lead his team in scoring and rebounding, but the only one on a team vying for a postseason berth. The other three are Arizona's Williams, Chris Gaston on Fordham and Marshawn Powell of Arkansas.