From MSU
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Montana State's stellar senior guard Jason
Erickson capped his Bobcat career in appropriate fashion this month,
when the NCAA announced that Erickson has earned a prestigious
Post-Graduate Scholarship.
Erickson becomes just the 10th men's basketball player in Big
Sky Conference history, and the second Bobcat, to earn the honor. Of the
16 Division I male student-athletes to earn the award this year,
Erickson is one of only four basketball players, one of four in the
Rocky Mountain or Pacific West, and the only one from a Big Sky school.
The NCAA grants its post-graduate scholarship, worth $7,500, to
graduating seniors based on academic and athletic performance.
Erickson has maintained a grade point average of 3.6 throughout
his collegiate career, earned Big Sky Freshman of the Year and Big Sky
MVP honors during his career, and in 2001 became MSU's first All-America
in 35 years. He finished his career as MSU's all-time leader in steals,
and among the school's leaders in scoring, assists, and three-point
shooting.
"Jason has been an outstanding representative of Montana State
University, and epitomizes the concept of student-athlete," said MSU
Athletic Director Peter Fields. "He has been active in the University
and Bozeman communities, in addition to excelling athletically and
academically. He is very deserving of this honor."
The last Big Sky Conference men's basketball player to earn an
NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship was Montana State's Nico Harrison in
1996, and only four league players (Erickson, Harrison, Montana's
Jeremyhave been so honored in the last 17 years.
Big Sky Conference NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Winners, Men's
Basketball
2004: JASON ERICKSON, Montana State
1996: NICO HARRISON, Montana State
1995: Jeremy Lake, Montana
1993: Corey Bruce, Idaho State
1986: Larry Krystkowiak, Montana
1985: Kent Hagen, Weber State
1981: Craig Zanon, Montana
1980: Mark Mattos, Weber State
1979: Troy Hudson, Northern Arizona
1968: GREG HANSON, Montana State
2004 Division I NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Winners (Men)
George Bruce, swimming/diving, Stanford
Ryan Costella, swimming/diving, Villanova
Adam Davis, track, Rice
Jason Edmonds, track, Missouri
JASON ERICKSON, basketball, MONTANA STATE
Caesar Garcia, swimming/diving, Auburn
Adam Hess, basketball, William & Mary
Adam Morgan, basketball, Belmont
Ronald Mittel, swimming/diving, Louisville
Tyler Nixt, wrestling, Iowa
Jed Pennell, wrestling, Oregon State
Jack Pennutto, swimming/diving, Missouri-Rolla
Scott Schultz, swimming/diving, Florida
Andrew Sohn, fencing, Columbia
Brett Starkey, basketball, Denver
Paul Taylor, fencing, Boston College
Brent Warner, track, Duke
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