Emory University seniors Ben Pearce and Jair Knight headlined the D3hoops.com All-America team selections as they were released Tuesday afternoon by the organization.
Pearce and Knight become the first set of teammates to be All-America selections, by any organization, during the same season. Pearce also etched his name in Emory lore as he becomes the first player in program history to be chosen as the National Player of the Year by any outlet. In addition to his national recognition, Pearce is just the second Eagle in team history to be named to the First Team by D3hoops.com while Knight is the first player in program history to be an All-America in multiple seasons as he landed on the Second Team after his Fifth Team choice last season. Pearce is also the third player in Emory basketball history to be an All-American by both the NABC and D3hoops.com in the same season.
The dynamic senior duo has led the Eagles to the program's biggest heights this season with Emory set to appear in the national championship game against Mary Washington on Sunday, April 5th at 4:30 PM in Indianapolis, Indiana. Emory currently stands at 27-3 on the season, setting the program record for most wins during a single season.
Pearce's senior season has rewritten the Emory record books as he has established new single season team records in points scored (697), scoring average (24.0), free throws made (172), minutes played (1,081) and is only the second player ever to reach 200 assists in a season with his Division III-leading total of 207 dimes. Furthermore, Pearce has become the all-time Emory leader in points scored (2,070), scoring average (19.0), field goals made (259), games started (109), minutes played (3644) and is second with 609 assists.
For Knight, he has compiled another tremendous season with a career-best 565 points while scoring at 18.8 points per game clip. He is shooting his best from the floor at 48.8% and is averaging 6.4 rebounds per game and has set a personal-high with 64 assists to go along with 28 blocks and 43 steals.
Both players were honored previously with D3hoops.com All-Region nods as well as recognition from the University Athletic Association First Team, NABC All-District, and were finalists for both the Bevo Francis and Trevor Hudgins awards by Small College Basketball.
