Temple University Athletics
Dionte Christmas Named NABC First Team All-District
3.4.09 | Men's Basketball
March 4, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - Temple University All-America candidate Dionte Christmas has been selected as a NABC First Team All-District 4 honoree. It marks the first time that Christmas has earned the honor from the NABC. He had previously been named NABC Second Team All-District in 2007 and 2008.
Christmas, a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and the Lowe's Senior Class Award, is looking to become the only player in Atlantic 10 Conference history to lead the league in scoring three times. The two-time defending champion ranks second in the conference with a 19.5 scoring average. Having arguably his best season, the 6-5 All-America candidate also is second in the league in three-pointers made (3.07 mpg.) and ranks second on the Owls in rebounding (6.1 rpg.) and assists (83) while topping the squad in steals (39).
He has won three A-10 Player of the Week awards this season to push his career total to 10, third most in league history. Only Xavier's David West (14.'00-03) and Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson (13, '01-04), both National Players of the Year as seniors, have earned more A-10 Player of the Week honors. He has earned four Big 5 Player of the Week honors this season with his career total standing at 10, and two ESPN.com National Player of the Week citations, the last coming following his 35-point outburst in the Owls' 88-72 upset of then #8 Tennessee (12/13).
The Philadelphia native (Philadelphia Lutheran Christian Academy) is on track to become just the fourth Temple player to score 2,000 career points. He currently ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,926 points. He also is on pace to break Lynn Greer's record of 305 career three-pointers made (1997-02). Christmas has made 298 treys, second on the TU list.
Christmas was joined on the all-district team by Ahmad Nivins (Saint Joseph's), Derrick Brown (Xavier), Aaron Jackson (Duquesne) and Chris Wright (Dayton).
Christmas and the Owls next host Saint Joseph's in an Atlantic 10/Big 5 game Thursday night (7:00 p.m/CBS College Sports/1210 AM WPHT) at the Liacouras Center.
