March 1, 1999
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – University of Notre Dame freshman forward Troy Murphy (Morristown, N.J.) has been named to the 1998-99 all-BIG EAST second team. In addition, Murphy was a unanimous pick for the 1998-99 BIG EAST all-rookie team. Murphy led the Irish in scoring during the regular season at 18.9 points per game and 9.7 rebounds.
The BIG EAST announced its all-star teams by teleconference on Monday morning and will announce its major awards at a press conference on Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City at 6:00 p.m. EST. The 1999 BIG EAST Championship begins Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. The Irish are the No. 8 seed in the event and take on No. 9 seed Seton Hall in the first round Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. EST. That game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
Murphy earned BIG EAST rookie-of-the-week eight times this season, including a share of the award on Sunday with Erick Barkley of St. John’s. The eight honors by Murphy is second in league history behind nine honors by Allen Iverson of Georgetown in 1995-96.
Connecticut forward Richard Hamilton and Miami forward Tim James are the two repeat selections on the 1998-99 all-BIG EAST first team. The other first team picks are: guard Johnny Hemsley of Miami, forward Jamel Thomas of Providence and swingman Ron Artest of St. John’s. The awards are determined by a vote of the conference’s head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.
The all-BIG EAST second team, which has no seniors, includes: Murphy, sophomore Khalid El-Amin of Connecticut and juniors Marvis “Bootsy” Thornton of St. John’s, Etan Thomas of Syracuse and Marcus Goree of West Virginia.
1998-99 ALL-BIG EAST AWARDS
ALL-BIG EAST First Team
*Richard Hamilton, Connecticut, Jr., 6-6, 180, Coatesville, Pa.
*Tim James, Miami, Sr., 6-7, 205, Miami, Fla.
Johnny Hemsley, Miami, Jr., 6-5, 195, Baltimore, Md.
Jamel Thomas, Providence, Sr., 6-6, 220, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Ron Artest, St. John’s, So., 6-6, 233, Queensbridge, N.Y.
ALL-BIG EAST Second Team
Khalid El-Amin, Connecticut, So., 5-10, 200, Minneapolis, Minn.
Troy Murphy, Notre Dame, Fr., 6-9, 225, Morristown, N.J.
Bootsy Thornton, St. John’s, Jr., 6-4, 195, Baltimore, Md.
Etan Thomas, Syracuse, Jr., 6-9, 231, Tulsa, Okla.
Marcus Goree, West Virginia, Jr., 6-8, 230, Dallas, Tex.
ALL-BIG EAST Third Team
Vonteego Cummings, Pittsburgh, Sr., 65, 190, Thomson, Ga.
Isaac Hawkins, Pittsburgh, Sr., 6-8, 210, Baton Rouge, La.
Rob Hodgson, Rutgers, Sr., 6-7, 220, Mastic Beach, N.Y.
Jason Hart, Syracuse, Jr., 6-1, 180, Los Angeles, Calif.
John Celestand, Villanova, Sr., 6-3, 175, Piscataway, N.J.
BIG EAST All-Rookie Team
Kevin Braswell, Georgetown, Fr., 6-2, 185, Baltimore, Md.
Anthony Perry, Georgetown, So. 6-3, 185, Jersey City, N.J.
*Troy Murphy, Notre Dame, Fr., 6-9, 225, Morristown, N.J.
Dahntay Jones, Rutgers, Fr., 6-5, 210, Hamilton Square, N.J.
*Erick Barkley, St. John’s, Fr., 6-1, 185, Queens, N.Y.
*denotes unanimous selection