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NJCU sophomore forward Dana John was honored by the NBA's
New York Knicks as the winner of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit”
Award for the month of April, 2007.
The award, named in honor of the Knicks’ first African-American player,
Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, recognizes those that have made a significant
difference in the lives of others. Each month, a winner is chosen by
members of the Knicks front office staff and honored at Madison Square
Garden’s center court prior to a home game. Each winner receives a $2,000
donation, in their name, to a charity of their choice. John chose to have
the donation presented to The United Way.
John was honored by the Knicks during the second quarter of the April 16
home finale against the New Jersey Nets on the floor at MSG alongside
Knicks’ legend John Starks.
John never played organized basketball at any level prior to attending
NJCU as a freshman last year. He has managed to balance a basketball
career with a full-time job with the United States Post Office from
midnight to 8 a.m. during the week, a full-time academic course load, and
basketball practice, while keeping family commitments that include caring
for his three-year-old son and handicapped nephew.
In 2006-07, John was
voted to the 2007 Eastern
College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Men’s Basketball
First-Team as a forward, in voting by the region’s head coaches and to the
National Association of
Basketball Coaches (NABC) First-Team All-Atlantic District.
He was named to the D3Hoops.com
First-Team All-Atlantic Region in voting by the region’s sports
information directors and tabbed First-Team All-New Jersey Athletic
Conference. He also earned selection
to the
Metropolitan Division II/III Basketball
Writers (NIT/MBWA) Second Team.
John led the Gothic Knights to the NJAC North Division championship and
within one shot of the NCAA Tournament. The Knights also advanced to the
ECAC Metro Semifinals, reaching a post-season tournament for the 25th
consecutive season, while recording their 32nd consecutive
winning season and 37th straight campaign of .500 or better.
For the season, John averaged 18.4 points, 5.6 rebounds (38-120-158), 1.8
steals (49), 1.1 assists (32) and 0.8 blocks per game (32) in 28 games. He
shot .456 from the field (167-366), .426 from three-point range (98-230),
and .778 from the free-throw line (84-108).
The NJAC leader in both threes made (3.50) and three-point percentage, he
finished the year with 17 more triples than any other player in the
league. John ranked second in the league in scoring, fifth in free-throw
percentage, eighth in minutes (31.46, 881), eighth in blocks and steals,
12th in defensive rebounds (4.29), and 16th in
rebounding.
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