March 4, 2003

MACON, Ga. - Samford University's J. Robert Merritt was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team as the Conference handed out post season honors on Tuesday.

Merritt, a 6-6 red-shirt freshman from Oklahoma City, OK, averaged 9.7 points 4.3 rebounds while starting 25 of 27 games for the Bulldogs who enter the 2003 Atlantic Sun Tournament as the No. 6 seed. Merritt scored a season-high 20 points against Florida International on Dec. 7. He was in double-figures in points 12 times and grabbed nine rebounds twice during his rookie season. Merritt is the second-straight Samford freshman to earn All-Freshman Honors. Last season, Jon Mills was named Freshman-of-the-Year by the conference office

E.J. Gordan of Stetson was this season's Freshman-of-the-Year. He led the Hatters in scoring averaging 14.7 points per game. Also receiving All-Freshman honors this season where Belmont's Brian Collins, Campbell's Robbie Dupre, and Gardner-Webb's Andre Manning.

Belmont's Adam Sonn was named the Atlantic Sun Player-of-the-Year. His teammate Adam Mark joined him on the All-Conference first team. Mercer's Scott Emerson, Georgia State's Nate Williams, and Troy State's Ben Fletcher were all named to the first team.

Second team All-Conference honors went to UCF's Ray Abellard, Mercer's Aleem Muhammad, Jacksonville's Kevin Sheppard, and Jacksonville State teammates Omar Barlett and Poonie Richardson.

Samford will face Troy State in the opening round of the A-Sun Tournament on Thursday night at 8 p.m. eastern time at the GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, Ga.