Nov. 5, 1997

Garrity Named Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year

NEW YORK - Notre Dame forward Pat Garrity, the 1996-97 BIG EAST Player of the Year, is the unanimous choice for 1997-98 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year. He is the first Notre Dame Player in conference history to receive Preseason Player of the Year honors. Coaches were not permitted to select their own players.

A 6-8 senior from Monument, Colo., Garrity finished second in the league last season in scoring with a 21.1 average. He had the fourth best field field goal percentage, hitting at a .484 clip. At the foul line he was seventh in the BIG EAST, shooting 77.6 percent. He also averaged 7.4 rebounds.

Garrity helped the Irish to a 16-14 overall record. Notre Dame made it to the NIT quarterfinals when it lost to eventual champion Michigan. In the conference, the Irish finished 8-10.

Garrity is joined on the All-BIG EAST First Team by one senior, two juniors and one sophomore. The senior is St. John's center Zendon Hamilton. He led the Red Storm with 16.2 points per game and finished second in the BIG EAST in rebounding with a 9.4 average.

The juniors are Miami forward Tim James and Pittsburgh guard Vonteego Cummings. James led the Hurricanes with 14.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He also averaged 2.2 blocks, fourth in the BIG EAST. Cummings topped the Panthers with an average of 16.3 points and 140 assists. His 4.2 assist average was eighth in the conference.

Seton Hall guard Shaheen Holloway is the lone sophomore on the team. Ranked fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring last season (17.3), he and Garrity are the league's top returning scorers. Holloway also placed third with 6.3 assists per game.

Garrity is the only returnee from the 1996-97 All-BIG EAST First Team. Hamilton, James, Cummings and Holloway were second team selections.

St. john's freshman forward Ron Artest was chosen BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year.

Preseason ALL BIG EAST Selections

1997-98 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Pat Garrity         Notre Dame  Sr. 6-9     227     Monument, Colo.
Tim James           Miami       Jr. 6-7     205     Miami, Fla.
Vonteego Cummings   Pittsburgh  Jr. 6-4     185     Thomson, Ga.
Zendon Hamilton     St. John's  Sr. 6-11    225     Floral Park, N.Y
Shaheen Holloway    Seton Hall  So. 5-10    175     Queens, N.Y.
1997-98 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Richard Hamilton    Connecticut     So. 6-6 180     Coatesville, Pa.
Jamel Thomas        Providence      Jr. 6-6 180     Brooklyn, N.Y.
Felipe Lopez        St. John's      Sr. 6-6 190     Bronx, N.Y.
Todd Burgan         Syracuse        Sr. 6-7 225     Detroit, Mich.
Damian Owens        West Virginia   Sr. 6-5 210     Seat Pleasant, Md.

Preseason Player of the Year Pat Garrity, Notre Dame

Preseason Rookie of the Year Ron Artest, St. John's