March 7, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB junior forward Reggie Huffman has been selected to the 2008 Conference USA Men's Basketball All-Academic Team, league officials announced on Friday. The team consists of five student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are a starter or key reserve on the men's basketball team.

In his first year with the Blazers, Huffman has played in all 30 games with 26 starts. He is averaging 7.2 points and 6.1 rebounds (third on the team) per game, with a team-best five double-doubles. He scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in UAB's 101-99 win over Houston on Feb. 20, then followed up with a career-high 14 rebounds in the Blazers' next game. The Birmingham, Ala., native has a 3.28 GPA as a communications studies major.

Huffman is joined on the team by two repeat selections, seniors Paulius Packevicius of Rice and Jon Killen of SMU. Senior Taylor Gagnon of East Carolina earned a spot this season, along with Tulsa junior Sam Mitchell and Huffman.

Packevicius is a three-time selection to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll with a 3.58 grade point average in economics and managerial studies. Packevicius played in the Owls' first 18 games of the season, before suffering a knee injury during a January practice.

Killen has started all 28 games for the Mustangs so far this season, averaging 13.1 points, and 4.96 assists per game. He is a business management and sociology major with a 3.45 GPA.

Gagnon has made 14 starts in 23 games played for the Pirates this season. He is averaging 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13 minutes per game. The Greenville, N.C., native is a four-time selection to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll with a 3.59 GPA in finance.

Tulsa's Mitchell has played in all 28 games for the Golden Hurricane. He is a three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Athletics Director's Honor Roll. Mitchell maintains a 3.4 GPA and is averaging 1.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in more than 11 minutes per game.

Huffman and his teammates will next be in action on Saturday, March 8, at Noon, when UAB takes on Memphis at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.