Marquette's Wade and Louisville's Gaines Earn AP All-American Honors

Dwyane Wade

Marquette University junior guard Dwyane Wade has been named an Associated Press first team All-American, the news organization announced on Thursday. Louisville senior guard Reece Gaines was also honored, being named to the third team. Conference USA has had at least one player named an AP All-American in each of the league’s first eight seasons.

Wade has turned in an outstanding season, helping Marquette to the program's first NCAA Final Four appearance since 1977. He ranks first on the squad and Conference USA in scoring with a 21.6 points per game average while also ranking first on the team in steals (2.15, 2nd in C-USA) and blocks (1.3 bpg, t-7th in C-USA). The 6-foot-5 Wade holds down the No. 2 spot on the club in assists (4.40 apg, 8th C-USA) and ranks ninth among league players with a 50.9 field goal percentage.

Wade has totaled a school-record 691 points this year and his 21.6 points per game mark is fourth on the school's seasonal chart. He has scored in double figures on 30 occasions and has recorded 21 contests of 20 or more points. He was named Conference USA Player of the Week on five occasions this year.

Marquette, 27-5 overall, heads into a NCAA Final Four semifinal contest against Kansas (29-7) this Saturday (Apr. 5) at the Superdome in New Orleans. Game time is 5:07 pm (CST).

Wade is joined on the first team by Kansas senior guard Nick Collison of Kansas and Texas sophomore guard T.J. Ford, both of whom will be joining Wade in New Orleans this weekend. Also named to the first team was Wake Forest senior forward Josh Howard and Xavier senior forward David West, the leading vote-getter.

This marks the fourth time in league that C-USA has had a player named as an AP first team All-American and the second year in a row. Cincinnati guard Steve Logan was chosen last season, joining fellow Bearcats Kenyon Martin (2000) and Danny Fortson (1997).

Named to this year’s AP All-American third team was Louisville senior guard Reece Gaines. Gaines led the Cardinals to a 25-7 record and their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1997. He ranked third in Conference USA in scoring at 17.9 points per game, placed sixth in assists at 5.0 per game and seventh in steals (1.55 pg), while connecting on 75 three-point field goals (sixth in the league).

The two-time first team All-C-USA performer closed out his career ranked fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,945 points. He also placed in U of L’s career top 10 in three-point field goals made (second with 225), steals (fifth with 191) and assists (fifth with 479).


2002-03 Associated Press All-Americans

First Team
Nick Collison, Kansas
T.J. Ford, Texas
Josh Howard, Wake Forest
Dwyane Wade, Marquette
David West, Xavier

Second Team
Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Troy Bell, Boston College
Jason Gardner, Arizona
Kyle Korver, Creighton
Hollis Price, Oklahoma

Third Team
Keith Bogans, Kentucky
Brian Cook, Illinois
Reece Gaines, Louisville
Kirk Hinrich, Kansas
Ron Slay, Tennessee