Freshman Geary Claxton was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, becoming just the second Nittany Lion to earn a spot on the squad. Junior Aaron Johnson was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention pick by the media while Kevin Fellows was Penn State's winner of the Sportsmanship Award.

State College, Pa. - March 8, 2005 - Penn State freshman Geary Claxton (West Haven, Conn.) was selected to the 2005 Big Ten All-Freshman Team as selected by the conference's 11 head coaches. Claxton becomes the second Nittany Lion in two years to earn a spot on the prestigious team. In addition, junior Aaron Johnson (Exton, Pa.) earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention from the conference's media.

Claxton led all Big Ten freshmen in scoring and rebounding in conference games with a 14.0 ppg mark and a 5.9 rpg average. During the course of the entire season, Claxton led Penn State in scoring with a 12.4 ppg mark and collected 6.1 rpg per game. He ended the season ranked 19th in the conference in scoring and 9th in rebounding, becoming the only freshman in the Big Ten ranked in the top 20 in scoring and top ten in rebounding. He was also 10th in the Big Ten in blocks per game (0.79) and third in offensive rebounds (3.03).

The 6-5 wing from West Haven, Conn., hit for double figures in 14 of Penn State's 16 conference contests. Claxton led Penn State with 111 free throws made, getting to the line 159 times for a .698 percentage. He also added 30 assists and 20 steals while averaging 31.7 minutes per game.

Claxton follows Marlon Smith (Bronx, N.Y.) who earned a spot on the All-Freshman team last season and was Penn State's first-ever member of the squad. In two years under Coach Ed DeChellis, Penn State has now had two players named to the All-Freshman team.

Johnson, a former walk-on, led the Big Ten with a 9.9 rebound per game mark and was second on the Nittany Lions with a 12.0 ppg mark. Johnson was 21st in the Big Ten in scoring and led the conference in offensive rebounds (4.00) and defensive rebounds (5.93).

The 6-9 power forward ended the regular season with 37 assists and 25 steals. He shot .663 from the free throw line and led Penn State with a 32.6 minute per game. Johnson now has 737 career points and 587 career rebounds.

Kevin Fellows (Meridian, Idaho) was Penn State's honoree as the Sportsmanship Award Winner. The annual award is given to one player from each team who exemplifies the sportsman-like values and qualities of the Big Ten and its student-athletes. Fellows played in 24 games this season and averaged a point and 1.4 rebounds per game. A senior, Fellows has played in 92 games during his Nittany Lion career.

2004-05 All-Big Ten Men's Basketball Team
As selected by Big Ten coaches
(players names in ALL CAPS have 2005-06 eligibility)

FIRST TEAM
DEE BROWN, Illinois*
VINCENT GRIER, Minnesota
Luther Head, Illinois
Mike Wilkinson, Wisconsin*
DERON WILLIAMS, Illinois

SECOND TEAM
MAURICE AGER, Michigan State
GREG BRUNNER, Iowa
TERENCE DIALS, Ohio State
CARL LANDRY, Purdue
BRACEY WRIGHT, Indiana

THIRD TEAM
Alan Anderson, Michigan State
JAMES AUGUSTINE, Illinois
PAUL DAVIS, Michigan State
ALANDO TUCKER, Wisconsin
VEDRAN VUKUSIC, Northwestern

HONORABLE MENTION
SHANNON BROWN, Michigan St.
Jeff Hagen, Minnesota
ADAM HALUSKA, Iowa
DION HARRIS, Michigan
JEFF HORNER, Iowa
Roger Powell, Jr., Illinois
D.J. WHITE, Indiana

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
GEARY CLAXTON, Penn State
DAN COLEMAN, Minnesota
DREW NEITZEL, Michigan State
ROBERT VADEN, Indiana
D.J. WHITE, Indiana

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DEE BROWN, Illinois
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DEE BROWN, Illinois
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: D.J. WHITE, Indiana

* unanimous

As selected by Big Ten media
(players names in ALL CAPS have 2005-06 eligibility)

FIRST TEAM
DEE BROWN, Illinois
Luther Head, Illinois
Mike Wilkinson, Wisconsin
DERON WILLIAMS, Illinois
BRACEY WRIGHT, Indiana

SECOND TEAM
Alan Anderson, Michigan State
GREG BRUNNER, Iowa
TERENCE DIALS, Ohio State
VINCENT GRIER, Minnesota
CARL LANDRY, Purdue

THIRD TEAM
MAURICE AGER, Michigan State
JAMES AUGUSTINE, Illinois
PAUL DAVIS, Michigan State
ALANDO TUCKER, Wisconsin
VEDRAN VUKUSIC, Northwestern

HONORABLE MENTION
Jeff Hagen, Minnesota
ADAM HALUSKA, Iowa
DION HARRIS, Michigan
JEFF HORNER, Iowa
AARON JOHNSON, Penn State
Roger Powell, Jr., Illinois
D.J. WHITE, Indiana

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DEE BROWN, Illinois
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: D.J. WHITE, Indiana
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bruce Weber, Illinois

* Unanimous

Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Roger Powell, Jr., Illinois; Mike Roberts, Indiana; Greg Brunner, Iowa; Graham Brown, Michigan; Chris Hill, Michigan State; Brent Lawson, Minnesota; Davor Duvancic, Northwestern; Matt Marinchick, Ohio State; Kevin Fellows, Penn State; Andrew Ford, Purdue; Mike Wilkinson, Wisconsin.