March 23, 2010

Rio's Rase earns NAIA Scholar-Athlete award

Kansas City, Mo. --- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that 67 Division I men's basketball players have been named 2009-10 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Among them was University of Rio Grande senior shooting guard P. J. Rase.

Rase, a native of Wheelersburg, OH, is a two-time recipient of this award. He is majoring in accounting/business management.

In addition to his outstanding play on the court this season, leading the RedStorm in scoring at 17.1 points per game and leading the NAIA in free-throw percentage (95.2 percent), which earned him All-Mid-South Conference honorable mention, he was also stellar in the classroom.  He was recognized by the Mid-South Conference as a Scholar-Athlete as well. 

"This is another great accomplishment from an outstanding young man," said Rio Grande head coach Ken French. "This marks the second consecutive year that P.J. has been recognized as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete."

"I have said it numerous times before but it is worth repeating," French added. "P.J. represents everything that is right about college athletics and what defines a student-athlete."

"P.J. has a very bright future ahead of him and we have been privileged to have him be a part of our program over the last three years," French said. "He has represented not only himself but our basketball program and the institution with honor and class."

Nominated by each institution's head coach, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have achieved junior academic status to qualify for the award.