BIG EAST Honors Foster, Thomas and Ballock

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Creighton's Marcus Foster was named First Team All-BIG EAST and Khyri Thomas garnered Second Team honors in a vote of league coaches announced on Sunday, March 4th. In addition Mitch Ballock was recognized with a spot on the BIG EAST's All-Freshman Team.

Foster becomes the first player in program history to earn First Team All-BIG EAST honors twice. The senior from Wichita Falls, Texas, leads Creighton with 20.3 points per game while also adding 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Foster topped the BIG EAST Conference with 145 field goals made. He's scored 10 or more points in 30-of-31 games this season and has moved into the top-25 in school history with 1,268 points as a Bluejay. Foster also joined Bob Portman and Doug McDermott as the only Bluejays to ever post multiple seasons of 600 or more points. Foster was named a Midseason All-American by Sporting News and has been a candidate for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and Senior CLASS Award.

Thomas was recognized for the first time in his career with All-Conference acclaim. The junior from Omaha averages 15.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. The 2016-17 BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Year tops CU with 49 steals and also shoots 54.5 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent from three-point range. Thomas has shot 50 percent or better from the field in each of his last 12 games, taking his game to another level after the midseason loss of Martin Krampelj due to injury.

Ballock landed a spot on the All-Freshman Team following a season that saw him average 6.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. The Eudora, Kan., native shot 42 percent from the floor, 31.9 percent from deep and 77.3 percent at the line. Ballock is a three-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week selection and recently moved into the Bluejay starting line-up. Ballock is just the second Creighton player in the BIG EAST era named to the All-Freshman Team, joining Justin Patton (2016-17).

More honors will be announced by the league office on Monday morning, including the Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man Award and Sportsmanship Award. The Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Creighton (21-10, 10-8 BIG EAST) tied for third place in the BIG EAST and will be the No. 4 seed in next week's BIG EAST Tournament, presented by Jeep. The Bluejays will face fifth-seeded Providence on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on FS1.
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
*Kelan Martin, Butler, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Louisville, Ky.
Marcus Foster, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-3, 210, Wichita Falls, Tex.
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's, G, So., 6-1, 165, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mikal Bridges, Villanova, G/F, Jr., 6-7, 210, Malvern, Pa.
*Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Lincolnshire, Ill.
*Trevon Bluiett, Xavier, G, Sr., 6-6, 205, Indianapolis, Ind.

ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Khyri Thomas, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-3, 210, Omaha, Neb.
Marcus Derrickson, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-7, 250, Bowie, Md.
Markus Howard, Marquette, G, So., 5-11, 175, Chandler, Ariz.
Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, C, Sr., 6-10, 245, Bajos De Haina, D.R.
Desi Rodriguez, Seton Hall, F, Sr., 6-6, 220, Bronx, N.Y.

BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Andrew Rowsey, Marquette, G, Sr., 5-11, 180, Lexington, Va.
Kyron Cartwright, Providence, G, Sr., 5-11, 185, Compton, Calif.

BIG EAST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Mitch Ballock, Creighton, G, 6-5, 205, Eudora, Kan.
Jahvon Blair, Georgetown, G, 6-3, 189, Brampton, Ont.
*Jamorko Pickett, Georgetown, G, 6-8, 190, Washington, D.C.
Nate Watson, Providence, C, 6-10, 260, Arlington, Va.
*Omari Spellman, Villanova, F, 6-9, 245, Cleveland, Ohio
*Naji Marshall, Xavier, F, 6-7, 218, Atlantic City, N.J.

*Denotes unanimous selection.

Players Mentioned

Mitch Ballock

Marcus Foster

Martin Krampelj

Khyri Thomas

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