Senior guard Alex Franz (Catonsville, Md./Cardinal Gibbons) picked up his second all-region selection of the week as Franz earned National Association of Basketball Coaches first team All-Middle Atlantic Region honors as announced Wednesday.  This is the second consecutive season that the 6-1 team captain has garnered NABC all-region honors after making the second team last year.

Franz has also been selected to play in the Reese's Division III College All-Star Game as a member of the West Team.  The All-Star Game will be played prior to the 2011 NCAA® Division III Men's Basketball Championship game on Saturday, March 19, at 1:00 pm at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va.

The game will feature four outstanding former coaches who have been recipients of the NABC Division III Outstanding Service Award.  The East team will be coached by former Allegheny College coach Phil Ness and he will be assisted by former Albion College coach Mike Turner.  The West team will be coached by former Muskingum College coach Jim Burson and he will be assisted by former Suffolk University coach Jim Nelson.  Former Beloit coach Bill Knapton was selected to coach the West team but is unable to attend.

Two players were selected from each of the eight regions as well as two players that were selected from an internet vote.  Additionally, two players will be selected from the two teams that do not advance to the Division III national championship game.

For live video of the game, go to: www.ncaa.com/liveschedule

For live stats, go to: livestats.prestosports.com/odac

Franz will leave the Seahawk men's basketball program as one of the most decorated players to have come through St. Mary's.  Within the last two weeks, he was named the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year as well as the D3hoops.com Middle Atlantic Region Player of the Year.  Franz became just the second Seahawk in the 21-year history of the conference to be named CAC Player of the Year, 10 years after Sheldon Taylor '01 was honored following the 2000-01 season.

He is also a two-time D3hoops.com all-region selection as Franz earned first team honors this season after being named to the third team in 2010.  On his résumé as well are three consecutive selections to the All-CAC first team.

Franz has helped lead the Seahawks to a four-year record of 91-27 (51-13 CAC) – the best record by any senior class in school history.  St. Mary's enjoyed three NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament appearances with two trips to the Sweet 16 (2008 and 2010) and one Elite 8 showing in 2011 to end his career.

The Seahawks also experienced three CAC championship crowns, including back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011, as well as three consecutive conference regular-season titles.

Franz has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the men's basketball program, graduating as the school's all-time leader in assists (587) and steals (326) as well as the conference's career leader in steals.  He finished ranked ninth in Division III with 2.9 steals per game as Franz led the conference with 90 steals.  He also owns the 35th-best assist average in the nation with 5.3 assists per game as wrapped up his senior campaign with a conference-best 164 assists.  Franz ended the 2010-11 season as the team's leading scorer with 15.5 points per game for fifth in the conference.

In four years, Franz accumulated 1,485 points in 118 games played (112 starts).  He shot 44.8 (527-1177) percent from the floor, including 32.0 (136-425) percent from downtown.  Franz also grabbed 548 career rebounds while making 68.9 (295-428) percent of his free throws.

St. Mary's ended the 2010-11 campaign by advancing to its first-ever Elite 8 in just its third NCAA appearance.  The Seahawks bowed out of the 'Big Dance' with a 25-6 overall record after securing the program's second straight CAC championship crown and third consecutive league regular-season title.