Harris Chosen as BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Syracuse freshman Paul Harris (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) was voted the BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, Oct. 25 in a vote of the league’s head coaches. The announcement was made at the conference’s annual Media Day held in the Madison Square Garden Theatre Lobby in New York City. Harris, a 6-5 forward, has already been selected the preseason national Newcomer of the Year by Blue Ribbon and Athlon magazines.

Harris attended Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts for his senior season and was named to the 2006 All-USA Second Team by USA Today. He also played on the USA Junior Select Team at the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit.

Senior Terrence Roberts (Jersey City, N.J.) and sophomore Eric Devendorf (Bay City, Mich.) also garnered preseason conference recognition Wednesday. Roberts, who led SU in rebounding last season (7.6 rpg) and averaged 10.7 points per game, was picked to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Devendorf, a 2005-06 conference all-rookie selection, earned Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention laurels. Devendorf averaged 12.9 points per outing last year and hit 50 3-point field goals, the third most by a freshman in Orange basketball history.

The Orange garnered 182 points and was picked to finish third in the vote. Syracuse received one of the 16 first-place votes. Pittsburgh was picked to win the league. The Panthers accumulated 219 points and received 10 first-place votes. Georgetown was tabbed second (212 points) and garnered four first-place nods. Marquette got the final first-place vote and was picked to finish fourth (181 points).

Syracuse will make its 2006-07 debut on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Carrier Dome with an exhibition game against Bryant at 7:00 p.m.

2006-07 Preseason Coaches' Poll

School	Pts.
1. Pittsburgh (10)	219
2. Georgetown (4)	212
3. Syracuse (1)	182
4. Marquette (1)	181
5. Connecticut	173
6. Louisville	149
7. Villanova	146
8. DePaul	134
9. St. John's	105
10. Providence	102
11. Notre Dame	80
12. West Virginia	72
13. Cincinnati	52
14. Rutgers	49
15. Seton Hall	42
16. USF	22

First-place votes in parentheses

2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh

2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Paul Harris, Syracuse

2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
*Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh (Player of the Year)
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut.
Wilson Chandler, DePaul
Sammy Mejia, DePaul
*Jeff Green, Georgetown
*Roy Hibbert, Georgetown
Juan Palacios, Louisville
*Dominic James, Marquette
Lamont Hamilton, St. John's
Terrence Roberts, Syracuse
Curtis Sumpter, Villanova

*unanimous selection

2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
David Padgett, Louisville
Colin Falls, Notre Dame
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse

Syracuse University Athletics

Harris Chosen as BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year

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