GOLDEN EAGLES KENNEDY NAMED TO PSAC-WEST FIRST TEAM

            Clarion University senior guard Leon Kennedy (Detroit, Mich./Northwestern) is a first-team PSAC-West men’s basketball selection in a voting by the league’s coaches.

            “We are all very happy for Leon,” Clarion head coach Ron Righter said. “He had a very solid season for us and is deserving of the recognition. He has been a key part of our team the last two seasons and was one of the reasons we made it to the PSAC Playoffs this season.”

            Kennedy helped Clarion to its 10^th PSAC Playoff appearance in the past 11 years by averaging 14.9 points per game (10^th in the PSAC), 2.43 steals per game (2^nd in the PSAC) and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 35.2 percent (31 of 88) from 3-point range, 48.4 percent (154 of 318) from the floor and 70.5 percent (79 of 112) from the free-throw line. He added 30 assists and seven blocked shots. Kennedy scored a career-high 27 points twice including in Clarion’s PSAC Playoff game at California Feb. 27 (he also scored 27 vs. Mansfield Dec. 2) while adding two 25-point games and a 24-point affair. He scored 20 or more points seven times and 15 or more points 14 times. He also had a career-high 11 rebounds vs. Wayne State Jan. 3.

            In his two-year career at Clarion, Kennedy scored 827 points, grabbed 268 rebounds and had 116 steals to go with 56 assists. He shot 47.6 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from 3-point range and 70.2 percent from the free-throw line. Kennedy was ranked 13^th in the PSAC in scoring in 2006 (15.7 ppg) and fifth in steals (1.85) the same season.

            GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES – Kennedy’s selection marks the 19^th straight year Clarion has had at least one player named All-PSAC-West. His first-team selection also means Clarion has had a first-team member in 16 of the past 18 years including in 10 of the last 11 … Clarion’s last first-team selection was Ryan Wells in 2005, who made it on the first-team for the second consecutive season that year … Clarion has had 17 first-team selections since 1990 … Righter is the winningest coach in school history and won his 300^th game at Clarion this season. He is 312-200 in his 19^th year at the school and has guided the Golden Eagles to one NCAA Playoff appearance (2001), one PSAC Title (2001) and three PSAC-West titles (1997, 2000, 2005).