OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Gonzaga's
Josh Perkins was named Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American Friday.
The award and team, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men's basketball coaches, national basketball media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athletes in Division I men's basketball.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition.
Perkins completed his degree in Sport Management and is wrapping up his master's degree in Organizational Leadership. He finished his undergraduate career with an impressive 3.24 GPA and currently holds a 3.66 GPA in his graduate program. In each of the last two years, the Park Hill, Colo., native has received West Coast Conference All-Academic team recognition. He also earned his way onto the WCC Commissioner's Honor roll list the past three years.
Since his freshman season, Perkins has been actively involved in all team community outreach activities and helping to get his teammates involved in the Spokane area. He has participated in Habitat for Humanity building houses, visited the local VA Hospital and spent time with veterans, and served multiple meals at the local Union Gospel Mission. In addition to these opportunities, Perkins has spent a day each summer at Camp Goodtimes, a camp for children diagnosed with cancer, brightening the lives of those going through tough times. This past summer, he was given an honorary Camp Counselor t-shirt and his own nick-name—a true sign of admiration from the camp from his impact on the children over the past several years while at Gonzaga.
Perkins finished his illustrious career second in NCAA Div. I history with 134 wins, with only 19 losses. He played more games (153) than any other active player in the nation this season, and was one of only 15 players in NCAA Div. I history to play 150 games in a career.
Perkins became Gonzaga's all-time assist leader with 712 in his five-year stint. His 712 assists rank fifth in West Coast Conference history. The redshirt senior's 234 assists in 2018-19 are the most in a single season in program history, while his 54 steals rank eighth. He is second all-time at GU with 178 steals in his career, fifth with 251 made three-pointers and 12th with 1,562 points. This season, Perkins was seventh in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.12), eighth with 234 assists and 16th averaging 6.3 assists per game. He led the WCC this season in total steals and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Perkins was a Bob Cousy Award Finalist for the top point guard in the country. He was tabbed All-West Coast Conference First Team for the second time and was named WCC Player of the Week twice this season.
North Carolina's Luke Maye was selected as the Senior CLASS Award winner. Maye, Loyola-Chicago's Clayton Custer, Mike Daum of South Dakota State, Wisconsin's Ethan Happ and Kentucky's Reid Travis were on the first team. Perkins, Jon Elmore of Marshall, Northern Kentucky's Drew McDonald, Belmont's Dylan Windler and Justin Wright-Foreman of Hofstra made up the second team.
Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-Americans
| Clayton Custer, Loyola-Chicago |
| Mike Daum, South Dakota State |
| Ethan Happ, Wisconsin |
| Luke Maye, North Carolina |
| Reid Travis, Kentucky |
Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-Americans
| Jon Elmore, Marshall |
| Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky |
| Josh Perkins, Gonzaga |
| Dylan Windler, Belmont |
| Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra |
