Blair named first team All-American by writers

Less than one week after earning the top honor in the Big East, Pitt center DeJuan Blair… Less than one week after earning the top honor in the Big East, Pitt center DeJuan Blair received a distinction with national clout. The United States Basketball Writers Association named Blair to its All-America First Team, the first Panther to gain the privilege in 35 years. The 6-foot-7-inch sophomore averages 15.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game through the season’s first 32 games entering Pitt’s first NCAA Tournament clash with East Tennessee State in Dayton, Ohio at 2:50 p.m. on Friday. Billy Knight was the last Pitt player to make the USBWA first team in 1974. The only other Panther recognized in that span was Jerome Lane, who made the second team in 1988. Blair’s award comes six days after he was named co-Big East Player of the Year with Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet. He was also tabbed as the USBWA District 2 Player of the year last week, and Pitt coach Jamie Dixon as the District 2 Coach of the Year. Blair leads the country in offensive rebounding, and his 12.2 rebounds per game leads the Big East and is fourth in the nation. Joining Blair on the first team are junior Stephen Curry of Davidson, sophomore Blake Griffin of Oklahoma, Arizona State sophomore James Harden and North Carolina senior Tyler Hansbrough. Thabeet made the USBWA Second Team, along with fellow Big East forward Luke Harangody of Notre Dame. Sherron Collins of Kansas, Jodie Meeks of Kentucky and Jeff Teague of Wake Forest also made the second team.