UDC Basketball Players Garner ALL-ICAA Recognition

Washington, DC---- Three University of the District of Columbia basketball players have been selected to the All-Independent College Athletic Association’s (ICAA) Division II teams. Ashley Alexander, a member of the UDC Lady Firebirds Basketball Team was named to the All-ICAA Division II Women’s 2nd Team, while Charlie Smallwood and Willie Shaw were named to the All-ICAA Men’s 2nd and 3rd Teams, respectively. Selection to All-ICAA Teams is the highest recognition accorded by independent schools to players who had stand out performances on the court during a particular season.  

Ashley Alexander, a junior guard from Washington, DC (Calvin Coolidge H.S.), averaged 12.3 points, 6 rebounds and 2.29 steals per game during the 2006-07 season. Alexander led was the highest scorer in 12 Lady Firebird games this season, scoring as high as 26 points in one game.

UDC Women’s Head Coach Lester L. Butler, Jr., said “I am extremely happy for Ashley, she has worked very hard this year to improve her game, and I am looking forward to her having a great senior campaign during the 2007-08 season.”

Charlie Smallwood, a junior guard from Palmer Park, MD (Parkdale H.S.) averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.36 steals per game to lead the Firebirds to a 20-9 season record, which is the highest number of games won by a Firebird team since 1982. Smallwood led the team in scoring in 12 games during the season, scoring as many as 30 points in one game. He was nationally ranked among NCAA Division II schools this season, coming in at #76 in three-point field goals, and #78 in three-point field goal percentage.
 
Willie Shaw is a junior forward from Alexandria, Virginia (T.C. Williams H.S.). He averaged 14.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this season. Shaw was also nationally ranked among Division II schools at #9 in field-goal percentage, and # 29 in rebounds per game.

UDC Head Men’s Basketball Coach Julius L. Smith, Jr. say he is elated over the selection of  Smallwood and Shaw to the All-IACC Teams and looks forward to another great season from them next year.