FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Greg Prouty, Longwood
April 5, 2011

Harper, Smart, Covington Headline Men's Basketball Team

FARMVILLE, Va. -- University of Richmond forward Justin Harper has been selected as Player of the Year, VCU head coach Shaka Smart is the Coach of the Year, and VMI center D.J. Covington was picked as the Rookie of the Year in the annual voting by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) for the 2011 University Division All-State Men's Basketball Team.
    
Harper, a 6-10 senior from Meadowbrook High School in Richmond, averaged 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds with 77 three-point field goals while shooting 53% from the field, including 45% on three-pointers, and 80% at the free throw line.  He led the Spiders to a 29-8 record, including 13-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while leading UR to the A-10 Tournament title and to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Harper earned 1st-Team All-Atlantic 10, Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team, NABC All-District 4 1st-Team, Richmond Times-Dispatch All-State and Player of the Year, and was named to the Lute Olson All-America Team by CollegeInsider.com.
    
Smart led VCU to a 28-12 overall record, including 12-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), before the Rams advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time in school history.  His team had consecutive post-season wins over USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, and Kansas before falling 70-62 to Butler in a national semifinal game.  Smart’s Rams tied a school record with 28 wins after finishing as CAA Tournament runners-up following a fourth-place finish during the regular season before entering the NCAA Tournament as a #11 seed -- only the third 11th seed to ever reach the Final Four.
    
Covington, a 6-9 freshman from Virginia Beach, averaged 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks for VMI and shot 62% from the field and 60% at the free throw line.  He helped the Keydets to an 18-13 overall record, including 10-8 in the Big South Conference, while earning Big South Freshman of the Year honors.  Covington led the league in blocks.
    
Harper was joined on the VaSID 1st-Team by Richmond teammate and senior Kevin Anderson, James Madison senior Denzel Bowles, Virginia Tech senior Malcolm Delaney, Old Dominion senior Frank Hassell, and VCU senior Jamie Skeen.  Anderson averaged 16.6 points and 3.3 assists while named 1st-Team All-Atlantic 10 and Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP.  Bowles averaged 17.6 points and 8.8 rebounds while named 1st-Team All-CAA.  Delaney averaged 18.7 points and 4.0 assists while earning All-ACC 1st-Team honors.  Hassell averaged 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds while named 1st-Team All-CAA and CAA Tournament MVP.  Skeen averaged 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds while earning All-CAA 2nd-Team, CAA All-Tournament Team, and NCAA Southwest Regional Tournament MVP honors.
    
The VaSID 2nd-Team included Longwood junior Antwan Carter (18.2 points, 9.5 rebounds), George Mason senior Cam Long (15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds), Norfolk State junior Kyle O’Quinn (16.4 points, 11.1 rebounds), Hampton junior Darrion Pellum (17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds), and Liberty junior Jesse Sanders (11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists).
    
Honorable mention honors went to Virginia Tech senior Jeff Allen, ODU senior Kent Bazemore, VCU junior Bradford Burgess, VMI senior Austin Kenon, William and Mary junior Quinn McDowell, and VCU senior Joey Rodriguez.
    
Tie-voting provided for the six 1st-Team, and six honorable mention selections among the 17 student-athletes recognized by VaSID.