Yellow Jackets get ninth rookie of year with Nelson winning

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - Ed Nelson joined a long list of Georgia Tech players named Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year, edging North Carolina State's Julius Hodge for The Associated Press honor announced Wednesday.

The six-foot-seven forward from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, received 37 of a possible 84 votes by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association. Hodge got 31.

Georgia Tech's B.J. Elder was third with five votes and Ilian Evtimov of the Wolfpack finished fourth with three.

Nelson is the ninth Georgia Tech player to win the award in 27 years. Some of the previous Yellow Jackets to win the honor include Stephon Marbury (1996), Kenny Anderson (1990), Dennis Scott (1988) and Mark Price (1983).

Nelson averaged 8.5 points and 6.9 rebounds and started 28 games this season. His rebounding total was good for tenth in the ACC.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/197450