WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Paulus Named Third Team Academic All-America

Feb 26, 2008

Durham, N.C. — Duke junior point guard Greg Paulus became the 10th men’s basketball player in school history to earn Academic All-America honors when he was named to the 2008 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America third team on Tuesday.

Paulus is Duke’s fourth Academic All-America since the 1997-98 season, giving the Blue Devils the most of any program in the country over the last 11 seasons. The Syracuse, N.Y. native has earned a 3.30 GPA and is majoring in Political Science in the classroom this season. He was an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District III first team selection to become eligible for Academic All-America honors.

On the court this season he has manned the point guard position for the Blue Devils, who are currently 23-3 overall and ranked No. 7 in the nation. He is leading the team in three-point field goals made (58) and assists (92). He is also second in steals (42) and ranks fourth in the ACC with a 2.14:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He is averaging 10.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. In conference games he is averaging 12.7 ppg. and 2.1 rpg. to go along with a team-high 41 assists and league best 2.41:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

He has scored in double figures 13 times this season, while shooting a team-high .420 from three-point distance and .839 from the foul line. He has started 25 of the 26 games on the year while leading Duke to a 10-2 record in the ACC.

Paulus joins Mike Dunleavy (2002), Shane Battier (2000-01), Quin Snyder (1989), Mike Gminski (1978-80), Jim Spanarkel (1978-79), Bob Fleischer (1974-75), Gary Melchionni (1972), Dick DeVenzio (1971) and Jay Buckley (1963-64) as Duke’s Academic All-Americas.