Toro Cager Anthony Blackmon Named CCAA Athlete of Year

Anthony Blackmon, who led Cal State Dominguez Hills to a berth in the NCAA Division II Western Regional Basketball Tournament, was voted male athlete of the year by sports information directors of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

Blackmon led the CCAA in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.7 points and nearly 10 rebounds a contest.

The 6-foot-7 center edged out guard Maurice Pullum of UC Riverside. He was named the CCAA basketball player of the year over Pullum, although Pullum made the Division II All-American Team and Blackmon, an All-Western Division choice, did not.

UC Riverside won the CCAA basketball title and went on to finish third nationally. Dominguez Hills finished a game behind the Highlanders in the CCAA, but lost four of its last six games.

Blackmon, who was scouted by several National Basketball Assn. teams, is scheduled to visit Japan later this month to meet with representatives of that country’s professional basketball league. He is also scheduled to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer Pro League at Loyola.

Tina Schnare, a four-event All-American swimmer from Cal State Northridge, was voted the CCAA female athlete of the year.