By Anthony Bosco
St. John’s University senior guard Marcus Hatten was named to the Big East Conference first-team for the second consecutive season, it was announced earlier this week.
Hatten finished his 32-game conference career as the all-time leading scorer in Big East history, averaging 23 points per game, surpassing the previous record holder, Allen Iverson.
“I’m excited that I was named to the Big East First Team for the second straight year,” Hatten said. “I’m not someone who looks to win individual awards, but it’s a great honor. I want to thank my teammates who made it possible, and I hope we can keep winning and play as well in the Big East Tournament.”
Hatten averaged 22.8 points per game overall this season and led the conference with a 2.7 steals average. He recorded a career-high 44 points against Rutgers last Thursday and etched himself forever into Red Storm lore with his game-winning free throw over Duke with no time left on March 2 to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks in school history.
A junior college transfer from Tallahassee Community College, the 6-foot-1 Baltimore native was named to the first team along with Boston College’s Troy Bell, Connecticut’s Emeka Okafor, Georgetown’s Mike Sweetney, Notre Dame’s Matt Carroll and Syracuse’s Carmelo Anthony.
“It would only surprise me if he wasn’t on the first team, it would be almost sacrilegious,” said St. John’s head coach Mike Jarvis. “I think his consistency has really placed him in a very special group, among the top of all the players who ever played in the Big East.
“Night in and night out Marcus has not only showed up, but has taken care of business,” the coach added.
Hatten was the only St. John’s member to make any of the all-Big East teams.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
