Michigan State University Athletics
Valentine Named NABC All-American
3/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Denzel Valentine has been named a First-Team All-America honoree by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He is joined on the First Team by Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia), Buddy Hield (Oklahoma), Brice Johnson (North Carolina) and Ben Simmons (LSU).
On Friday, Valentine was named a First-Team NABC All-District 7 selection, while Matt Costello was a second-team honoree.
Valentine averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists in becoming the only player in NCAA history to average 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists since the assist became an official statistic in 1983-84. He is the first player to lead the Big Ten in overall scoring and assists since Iowa's Andre Woolridge in 1997. He ranks fourth in the nation in assists (7.8 apg), eighth in 3-point field goals per game (3.35) and 12th in 3-point field-goal percentage (.444).
His senior season began on a strong note, posting his first career triple-double in the second game of the season with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists against Kansas. Nine days later, he posted another triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Boston College. Valentine led the Big Ten with 12 double-doubles. In games which he started, Valentine made or assisted on 50.9 percent of Michigan State's field goals. His 241 assists rank as the third-best single-season total at MSU and the most by a Spartan senior, while his 104 made 3-pointers are the fourth-best single-season total. His 19.2 ppg scoring average is the best at Michigan State since Maurice Ager averaged 19.3 in 2005-06.
Valentine finished his career with 1,645 points, 856 rebounds and 639 assists, becoming the first player in Big Ten history to record 1,300 points, 700 rebounds and 500 assists. In MSU history, he ranks third in career assists (639), third in career games played (144), fourth in career 3-point field goals made (265) and attempted (650), ninth in career rebounds (856), tied for ninth in career games started (117) and 11th in career scoring (1,645). He is the only player in Michigan State history to rank in the career Top 10 in both assists and rebounds.
Postseason awards are quickly accumulating for Valentine. He's won four National Player of the Year awards, including Basketball Times, Sports Illustrated, USA TODAY Sports and NBC Sports. In addition to his most recent accolades, he's been named First-Team All-America by the USBWA, Sporting News, USA TODAY Sports and Sports Illustrated. He became the eighth Spartan to be named Big Ten Player of the Year and he was a unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten selection. He followed by leading MSU to a Big Ten Tournament Championship and earning Most Outstanding Player honors. In addition, he was named the USBWA All-District V Player of the Year.
