Sixers' Noel named to All-Rookie team

Nerlens Noel - courtesy of TastyPoutine

PHILADELPHIA - Sixers big man Nerlens Noel was named to the 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the 11th player in franchise history to earn the honors.

Noel played in 75 games this season, starting 71, and averaged 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.77 steals and 1.89 blocks.  The last player to post those averages in a single season while playing at least 50 games was Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994-95.

Over his final 22 games, Noel peaked by averaging 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.18 steals and 1.95 blocks.

Noel, who just turned 21, led all rookies in rebounding, steals, blocks and double-doubles (18).  In addition to being the only player to rank top-10 in both steals and blocks this past season, Noel joined David Robinson as the only rookies in NBA history to have averaged at least 1.50 steals and 1.50 blocks.

Rounding out the rest of the All-Rookie First Team selections are Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins, Chicago's Nikola Mirotic, Orlando's Elfrid Payton and the L.A. Lakers Jordan Clarkson.

Boston's Marcus Smart, Minnesota's Zach LaVine, Brooklyn's Bojan Bogdanovic, Denver's Jusuf Nurkic and New York's Langston Galloway, a Saint Joseph's product, comprised the All-Rookie Second Team.

Sixers rookies Jerami Grant and JaKarr Sampson also received votes for All-Rookie Second Team.

Grant was the 39th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and appeared in 65 games with 11 starts. He ranked third among rookies in blocks with 1.05 bpg and hit 49 3-pointers after shooting 6-of-20 from behind-the-arc in two seasons at Syracuse.

Sampson was not selected in the 2014 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at St. John's. He appeared in 74 games with 32 starts for the Sixers this season while hitting 31 3-pointers.