Banzhaf Earns Landmark Rookie of the Year
Freshman is also named second team all-conference

2/27/2008

WASHINGTON - The Catholic University of America freshman Jason Banzhaf (Livingston, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) has been named the 2007-08 Landmark Conference men's basketball Rookie of the Year and second team all-conference the league announced Wednesday.  The forward was also one of just two freshmen named all-conference with 10 of the 12 spots going to seniors.  He is the first CUA athlete to earn one of the top individual awards.

Banzhaf was a welcome surprise this past season leading the Cardinals in both scoring and rebounding.  He started 22 of his 25 games played and averaged 12.6 PPG as well as 7.2 RPG.  His rebounding average was almost four more per game than anyone else on the squad.  The Livingston, N.J., native posted three double-doubles over the course of the season with his best coming in the final game of the year versus Goucher where he scored 32 points and pulled in 18 rebounds.  Banzhaf shot well overall hitting 55.6 percent of his attempts from the field and 75.3 percent from the line.

In the Landmark Conference he ranked 10^th in scoring and sixth in rebounding.  He was also second in field goal percentage and eighth in free throw percentage.  Banzhaf showed a prowess on the offensive glass with 2.72 per game which placed him second in the league in the category.

The Cardinals finished 10-15 overall and 4-10 in conference narrowly missing the Landmark Tournament.  However, the team returns its entire lineup next season and plans to build upon the experience gained by the nine freshmen.