Okafor Named USBWA First Team All-America

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor added to his list of honors Monday after the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) named him a First Team All-America honoree. Okafor becomes the 43rd Duke player to earn All-America honors and the 29th under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Okafor is the second straight Duke freshman to receive the recognition, after former Blue Devil Jabari Parker was named a USBWA First Team All-American last season.

Okafor, the first freshman in ACC history to be named the conference's player of the year, is posting a remarkable freshman campaign that includes 11 double-doubles and 12 20-point games. Okafor is looking to become the first freshman in program history to lead his team in scoring (17.7 ppg.), rebounds (9.0 rpg.) and field goal percentage (.669). Okafor's 28 straight double-digit scoring games, achieved earlier this year, is a freshman conference record.

Okafor sits just 33 points shy of becoming the seventh freshman in ACC history, and just the second in program history, to score at least 600 points in a freshman campaign. He is also on pace to become the 13th freshman in ACC history to lead his team in both scoring and rebounding.

With the help of Okafor's strong play, the second-ranked Blue Devils head into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed in the South Region. Duke will face the winner of the game between North Florida and Robert Morris Friday, March 20, at 7:10 p.m. in Charlotte, N.C., with the contest airing live on CBS.

The USBWA was formed in 1956, and is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. Monday's announcement marks the 58th season the association has named an All-America team.

All 10 of the All-America selections are also among the Oscar Robertson Trophy finalists. The USBWA's National Player of the Year Award will be announced April 14, the week following the NCAA Men's Final Four.

USBWA All-America Team
First Team
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Second Team
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Bobby Portis, Arkansas
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Delon Wright, Utah

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