BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell University sophomore forward Jonathan Rodriguez has been named to the CollegeHoops.Net pre-season Mid-Major All-America basketball team. Rodriguez was one of 26 athletes selected to the unit, representing teams from 15 "mid-major" conferences.

The 6-foot-5 forward was an honorable mention choice as was last season's Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year Courtney Pigram.

The Camels start practice on Friday (Oct. 12) at 7:00 p.m. Campbell's first game is on Sat., Nov. 10 vs. Coker at 1:00 p.m.

"Jonathan has a tremendous challenge ahead of him this year," said fifth-year Campbell head coach Robbie Laing. "As I've told some others in the past, he can't jump all that well, but he rebounds. He's not particularly quick, but he gets by people. He doesn't shoot that well, but he scores. He is the best passer I've ever coached at any level and Jonathan's versatility to play inside or outside enhances our ability to attack in different ways. He loves the game of basketball."

As a freshman in 2006-07, Rodriguez was a first-team Atlantic Sun all-conference and all-freshman choice. He was named to the Mid-Major Freshman All-America team by Collegeinsider.com and the Mid-Major All-Freshman Team by Collegehoops.net.

He ranked fifth among the nation's Division I freshmen scoring leaders and stood among the A-Sun's leaders in 10 statistical categories -- 3rd in scoring (17.3), 1st in rebounding (8.8), 12th in FG% (.468), 13th in assists (3.03), 15th in FT% (.708), 12th in steals (1.45), 7th in blocks (1.1), 12th in assist/turnover ratio (1.15), 8th in offensive rebounds (2.45) and 1st in defensive boards (6.32).

He scored in double figures 28 times in 31 games with 11 outings of 20-plus points. Rodriguez set a school freshman class record for most points scored in a season (during the Division I era since 1977-78) with 536. That mark stands as the third-highest overall in a year in school Division I history, behind only Clarence Grier (739 in 1986-87) and Joe Spinks (584 in 1993-94). In addition, Rodriguez broke Spinks' school mark for rebounds in a year (272).

Rodriguez was Campbell's first freshman to earn all-conference honors since Joe Spinks gained 2nd-team All-Big South recognition in 1991. He is the only Camel frosh in school Division I history to gain first-team all-league recognition. He compiled 12 double-doubles in 31 games.

The native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, who spent two years at Calusa Prep in Miami, became just the second freshman in Campbell Division I era (since 1977-78) history to score 30 points in a game on Jan. 15 at Stetson and in the process, tied the school freshman class record for points scored in a game. Rodriguez hit 9-15 from the floor and 12-17 free throws against the Hatters to match the record set by Mark Mocnik vs. Augusta on Mar. 2, 1989.

Rodriguez' contributions helped Campbell to the program's most wins (14-17) since the 1995-96 club finished 17-11. Campbell also set a school record for victories at Carter Gym (12) in a season while breaking or tying 23 other program individual or team marks.

In addition to his scoring and rebounding season standards, Rodriguez tied the school Division I era record for games played and started (31) in a year, while establishing a new mark for free throws attempted (209). His 10-of-10 performance at the line vs. Stetson on Feb. 8 tied the school record for highest free throw percentage in a game. He led the nation's 16th-ranked offense in scoring 16 times in 31 games, and topped the club in rebounding on 23 occasions.

As a prep senior in 2005, Rodriguez averaged 25.5 points to lead all Miami-area high school players. He led Calusa Prep to state championship, while gaining first-team all-state, Florida's Player of the Year in Class 1-A, Miami Herald 3A-1A Player of the Year and National Christian School Athletic Association All-America second-team recognition. In addition, he was one of six players on the highly-regarded Miami Tropics AAU team to sign with Division I programs in 2005.

2007-08 Pre-Season

COLLEGEHOOPS.NET MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICA

FIRST TEAM
A.J. Graves, G, Sr, Butler
Stephen Curry, G, So, Davidson
Reggie Williams, F, Sr, VMI
Jason Thompson, F, Sr, Rider
Kyle Hines, F, Sr, UNC-Greensboro

SECOND TEAM
Giordan Watson, G, Sr, Central Michigan
Alex Harris, G, Sr, UCSB
Courtney Lee, G, Sr, Western Kentucky
Bo McCalebb, G, Sr, New Orleans
Charron Fisher, F, Sr, Niagara

THIRD TEAM
AZ Reid, G, Sr, High Point
Mike Trimboli, G, Jr, Vermont
George Hill, G, Jr, IUPUI
Diamon Simpson, F, Jr, St Mary's
Chris Daniels, C, Sr, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

HONORABLE MENTION
Adrian Banks, G, Sr, Arkansas State
Roy Bright, F, Sr, Delaware State
Gerald Brown, G, Sr, Loyola
Mike Green, G, Sr, Butler
Michael Jenkins, G, Sr, Winthrop
Carlos Monroe, F, Jr, Florida Atlantic
Courtney Pigram, G, Jr, ETSU
Gyno Pomare, F, Jr, San Diego
Drake Reed, F, Jr, Austin Peay
Jonathan Rodriguez, F, So, Campbell
Andrew Strait, F, Sr, Montana