Feb. 18, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) today announced the NABC Division I All-District Teams recognizing the country's best men's collegiate basketball student-athletes. Missouri senior center Arthur Johnson (14.1 ppg., 7.1 rpg.) and senior guard Rickey Paulding (15.0 ppg., 4.2 rpg.) were named to the first and second teams respectively in District 12.
Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, these student-athletes represent the finest basketball players across the country. The 150 student-athletes, from 15 districts, are now eligible for the NABC Division I All-American Team to be announced at the conclusion of the 2003-2004 NCAA men's basketball season.
This is the second straight year Johnson and Paulding have earned the award. Johnson is Mizzou's all-time blocked shots leader (233 blocks) and is on pace to become the schools all-time leading rebounder. He needs just 45 rebounds to eclipse Doug Smith's MU record of 1,053 career boards. He also ranks in the Mizzou Top 10 in scoring with 1,564 career points, putting him in 10th place all-time.
Paulding has led the Tigers most of the year in scoring averaging 15.0 ppg . He has eclipsed the 20 point mark five times this season and has knocked down a team-high 36 three point shots. He ranks 11th on the Mizzou all-time scoring list with 1,536 career points and ranks sixth on the MU all-time three-point field goals made list with 173.
Johnson, Paulding and the Tigers take on Iowa State tonight at 7 p.m. CST at the Hearnes Center. Below is a complete list of the 2003-04 District 12 honorees. For more information on Missouri Athletics, log on to www.mutigers.com.
District 12First Team Second Team Wayne Simien Kansas Keith Langford Kansas Tony Allen Oklahoma State Jake Sullivan Iowa State David Harrison Colorado Michael Watson Missouri-Kansas City Arthur Johnson Missouri Rickey Paulding Missouri John Lucas Oklahoma State Caleb Green Oral Roberts