March 8, 2004

LAS VEGAS - UNLV men's basketball players Odartey Blankson and Jerel Blassingame each have been named to the United States Basketball Writers Association's All-District VIII Team, as voted by the association's membership and announced by the organization on Monday.

Blankson, who was also named to the All-Mountain West Conference First Team today, leads the MWC in rebounding with 10.3 per game and is third in scoring at 17.4 ppg. He has turned in 18 double-doubles this season, which is the MWC record and is second in the nation behind Connecticut's Emeka Okafor.

Blassingame, who earned third team All-MWC honors today, leads the MWC in assists with 6.9 per game and has averaged 10.9 ppg.

The other eight members of the All-District VIII squad are BYU's Rafael Araujo, New Mexico's Danny Granger, Colorado's David Harrison, Utah's Nick Jacobson, Air Force's A.J. Kuhle and Nick Welch, Utah State's Cordell Butler and Nevada, Reno's Kirk Snyder.

Snyder was named the District VIII Player of the Year, while Air Force's Joe Scott earned Coach of the Year honors.

District VIII includes the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.