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MID-MAJOR
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER |
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April 3, 2008 |
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 BOSTON
(MA) -- A
first team All-Atlantic Sun selection, Belmont’s
Justin Hare has been named CollegeInsider.com
Mid-Major Most Valuable Player.
Hare, who earlier this week was named to the
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-America team, led the
Bruins to a third consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference
Championship and third consecutive appearance in the
NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Seeded 15th in the
West Region, Belmont challenged three-time national
champion Duke to the final horn, before losing 71-70.
The Bruins finished the 2007-08 season with a record
of 25-9.
“This is a tremendous honor for Justin,” says Belmont
head coach Rick Byrd. “He has represented our program
well, both on the court and in the classroom, during
his time at Belmont. With all he has achieved and all
he has meant to our program, it will be difficult not
having him in a Belmont uniform to open next season.
There is little doubt he will graduate as the most
significant player of our Division-I era.”
The 6-foot-2 guard led the Bruins in scoring (14.9 ppg)
shooting 43% from the field and 38% from three-point
range. He was also fifth in the nation from the
free-throw line, shooting nearly 92%.
Among his numerous accolades, the 6-2 guard is a
two-time First Team All-Atlantic Sun honoree and a
two-time Atlantic Sun Tournament MVP. All told, Hare
ranks second in the Bruins’ NCAA era and eighth in
Atlantic Sun Conference history in career points with
1,761 points.
Moreover, Hare earned a reputation for delivering in
high-pressure, late-game situations; hitting the
game-winning or game-tying shot in the final seconds a
remarkable 14 times. This includes his memorable
game-winning jumpshot to carry Belmont past Alabama,
85-83 (Nov. 19).
“Justin Hare was a program-changer at Belmont,” says
CollegeInsider.com’s Joe Dwyer. “Belmont had been a
very good program at the division I level, but Hare
helped to make them a great program. As he had done in
each of the past two seasons, Hare was the driving
force behind a third straight trip to the NCAA
tournament. He’s has been a leader to his team in so
many ways. Justin Hare epitomizes all that is good
about collegiate athletics.”
He is on schedule to graduate in May with honors
before pursuing medical school and will depart as the
most decorated student-athlete in Belmont history.
Hare was named Preseason Mid-Major All-American by
CollegeInsider.com. |
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