'Nova's Arcidiacono named to Big East All-Rookie team
Villanova guard Ryan Arcidiacono was a unanimous selection to the All-Big East team, and teammate JayVaughn Pinkston received third-team All-Conference honors.
'Nova's Arcidiacono named to Big East All-Rookie team
Joe Juliano, Inquirer Staff Writer
Villanova guard Ryan Arcidiacono was a unanimous selection to the Big East All-Rookie team announced Sunday.
The 6-foot-3 Arcidiacono, a Neshaminy High graduate who is the Wildcats' second-leading scorer and their top three-point shooter, joined forward Jakarr Sampson of St. John's as unanimous selections to the team in the vote of Big East coaches.
The Big East Rookie of the Year award, which will be announced Tuesday, is expected to come down to either Arcidiacono or Sampson.
Arcidiacono averaged 12.2 points and finished fourth in the Big East with 67 three-point baskets. Sampson averaged 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Red Storm, which will be Villanova's opponent when the two teams begin play Wednesday in the Big East tournament.
The Big East also announced its first, second and third All-Conference teams Sunday, and Villanova's JayVaughn Pinkston received a berth on the third team. Pinkston, a 6-6 sophomore, leads the Wildcats in scoring with a 12.9-point average.
The first team was headed by Georgetown forward Otto Porter Jr., the only unanimous all-conference selection. He was joined by a pair of Louisville players, guard Russ Smith and center Gorgui Dieng, along with Shabazz Napier of Connecticut, Jack Cooley of Notre Dame and Bryce Cotton of Providence.
--Joe Juliano
Juliano joined the Inquirer in 1985 after 10 years at United Press International and has covered college sports for most of that time. His current beats are Villanova basketball, Penn State football, golf and the Penn Relays. Reach Joe at jjuliano@phillynews.com.
