McNeal Tabbed AP Second Team All-American

Milwaukee – Marquette University Sr 2G Jerel McNeal (Chicago, Ill.) has been named an Associated Press Second Team All-America, the highest honor received by an MU player since 2003. McNeal, an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree, averaged 19.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 2008-09.

He finished at MU’s career leader in five categories, including scoring (1,985 points) and steals (287).

"Just sitting here thinking about it, and looking at the list of players, it means a lot,” McNeal said. “It’s an unbelievable accomplishment, and just to mentioned and considered to be in the same category as some of these players. It's an honor just to be mentioned."

Over the course of the last 30 years, only Butch Lee (1977-78) and Dwyane Wade (2002-03) have received a higher honor from the Associated Press. Lee, Wade and Dean Meminger (1970-71) are the only consensus first team selections in program history.

Of the 15 players named to the first, second and third teams, six represent programs from the BIG EAST Conference.

Associated Press First Team All-America

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh

James Harden, Arizona State

Stephen Curry, Davidson

Associated Press Second Team All-America

Jerel McNeal, Marquette

Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut

Ty Lawson, North Carolina

Luke Harangody, Notre Dame

Jodie Meeks, Kentucky