University Park, Pa., March 7, 2006 - Penn State men's basketball standout Geary Claxton (West Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) was honored twice on Tuesday first with his selection to the All-Big Ten third team by both the coaches and the media and then as one of 10 standouts selected to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association of America All-District 1 team, which encompasses schools from eight eastern states.

Claxton, who is one of five players to rank in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding in the Big Ten, became Penn State's first player named to the USBWA All-District 1 team (encompassing the states of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and West Virginia) since Jarrett Stephens in 2000. Claxton, a sophomore, joins District 1 Player of the Year Randy Foye (Villanova), Hilton Armstrong (UConn), Mardy Collins (Temple), Mike Gansey (West Virginia), Rudy Gay (UConn), Kyle Lowry (Villanova), Allan Ray (Villanova), Craig Smith (Boston College) and Steven Smith (La Salle) on the team. He is one of three non-seniors honored in District 1 and one of 25 underclassmen honored among the nine regions nation wide.

Claxton, who's 15.5 ppg scoring average is on pace to be Penn State's highest since 2001, has been a dominate force in leading Penn State to a 14-13 record and 6-10 Big Ten mark, both the best in five seasons. The leading offensive rebounder in the Big Ten, Claxton finished the regular season ranked eighth in scoring and rebounding (7.4 rpg) in the conference and was among the top 10 in steals, blocked shots, defensive rebounds and minutes played in Big Ten games. He has posted five double-doubles on the season (three in the Big Ten) and six 20-point games. Among his best outings on the year were a 20-point, six-rebound effort in a huge road win at No. 6 Illinois, 20 points and nine rebounds in a win over Indiana, and double-doubles in wins at Northwestern (15 pts, 10 rebs) and against Purdue (20 pts, 10 rebs). Penn State's leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker, Claxton has played over 36 minutes per game in Big Ten games and has scored in double digits in 23 of Penn State's 27 games on the year.

Penn State earned the No. 8 seed for the Big Ten Tournament, March 9-12 in Indianapolis, Ind., and will take on No. 9 seed Northwestern at noon on Thursday in the first round. That game will be televised live on ESPN2 and can be heard on the Penn State Sports Network. Penn State swept two regular season games over Northwestern for the sixth time this season and will be looking to post a third victory over the same opponent in a season for the first time since downing George Washington three times in 1989-90. The winner of Thursday's game will face No. 1 seed Ohio State at noon on Friday.