IRVING, Texas – East Carolina senior forward Darrius Morrow has been selected to the 2011-12 Preseason All-Conference USA second team by the league’s head men’s basketball coaches according to an announcement from the league office Monday.
Last season, Morrow earned All-Conference USA Tournament honors as he averaged 21.7 points and 13.3 rebounds to lead the Pirates into the semifinals. He averaged 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds assists and claimed the top spot on ECU’s all-time single-season lists in free throws made (159) and attempted (239). Morrow finished the season with 379 career free throws made, good for third-place in ECU annals and well within striking distance of the school record of 430. He also became the 13th player in school history to amass over 1,000 career points and 500 rebounds.
Morrow ranks among the top-10 returning C-USA players in field goal percentage (fourth), rebounding (sixth) and scoring (10th).
UAB senior Cameron Moore was voted preseason Player-of-the-Year. Moore is joined on the preseason first-team by DeAndre Kane (Marshall), Will Barton (Memphis), Arsalan Kazemi (Rice), Kendall Timmons (Tulane) and Keith Clanton (UCF). In addition to Morrow, the second team is comprised of Memphis sophomores Tarik Black and Joe Jackson along with Robert Nyakundi (SMU), Jordan Clarkson (Tulsa) and Marcus Jordan (UCF).
The Pirates will officially open practice on Friday, Oct. 14 before hosting “Meet The Pirates” on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. The event will feature player introductions, a skills competition, and performances by the ECU cheerleaders. Fans are invited to receive autographs and have their picture taken with the student-athletes and head coach Jeff Lebo. The ECU women’s basketball team will also be participating in the event.
The event will be held with a slam dunk inflatable and two novelty stations where fans can make koozies and street signs. ARAMARK concessions and a Dowdy Student Stores souvenir booth will also be open. Admission is free.
The Pirates open the 2011-12 season on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. against Milligan College. Season tickets for all 17 home games begin at just $100 with the Economy Plan and Young Graduate Plan and may be purchased online, by telephone (800-DIAL-ECU or 252-328-4500) or in person at the ECU Athletics Ticket Office. (ECU)