Kansas senior guard Tyshawn Taylor and junior forward Thomas Robinson have been named to the 2012 National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 8 First Team it was announced Wednesday.

Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, these student-athletes represent the finest basketball players across America. The 240 student-athletes, from 24 districts, are now eligible for the NABC Coaches’ Division I All-America teams, to be announced on Tuesday, March 20.

Taylor and Robinson have both become accustomed to receiving accolades this season. Earlier this week Taylor was named a Third Team All-American by CBSSports.com, while Robinson earned first team honors.

Robinson, a Washington, D.C. native, is averaging 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game this season. He leads the Big 12 in double-doubles (23) and rebounds per game (11.8). His 23 double-doubles are tied for first nationally with Siena’s O.D. Anosike. Against eight nationally-ranked teams in 2011-12, Robinson averaged 19.8 points and 12.3 rebounds while shooting 55.6 percent.

Taylor, a Hoboken, N.J. native, led Kansas in conference games with an 18.6 scoring average. A two-time Big 12 Player of the Week this season, Taylor’s 17.3 points per game overall in 2011-12 rank fourth in the league. Taylor fared well against the eight ranked foes Kansas faced in 2011-12 averaging 19.1 points, 4.9 assists and shooting 48.0 from the field, 50.0 percent from three-point range. He also had five of his 12 games with 20-points against ranked competition this season. Taylor ranks among the top six in the Big 12 in scoring (17.3 ppg), field goal percentage (49.2 percent), three-point field goal percentage (43.5 percent) and assists (4.8 apg).

The Jayhawks will take on the No. 15-seeded Detroit from the Horizon League on Friday, March 16, at approximately 8:57 p.m. (Central) at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. The game will be televised on truTV. Kansas will have an open practice in the venue on Thursday, March 15, from 5:10-5:50 p.m.

— KU Sports Information —

Kansas junior forward Thomas Robinson was named to the 2011-12 U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America Team it was announced Monday. The first team consists of five forwards, as the USBWA selected the nation’s top five players regardless of position.

Robinson is joined by Kentucky’s Anthony Davis, Michigan State’s Draymond Green, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and Creighton’s Doug McDermott. This marks the fourth-straight season that a Jayhawk has been named a USBWA All-American and 21st time overall. Last season, former Jayhawk Marcus Morris was named to the second team.

Robinson, a Washington, D.C. native, is averaging 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game this season. He leads the Big 12 in double-doubles (23) and rebounds per game (11.8). His 23 double-doubles are tied for first nationally with Siena’s O.D. Anosike. Against eight nationally-ranked teams in 2011-12, Robinson averaged 19.8 points and 12.3 rebounds while shooting 55.6 percent.

Each of the first-team selections is among the Oscar Robertson Trophy finalists. The USBWA’s National Player of the Year Award, as well as the Henry Iba Award, presented to the National Coach of the Year, will be announced next Monday, March 19. Both prestigious awards will be formally presented on Friday, March 30, at the 2012 USBWA College Basketball Awards Breakfast at the New Orleans Marriott in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

The Jayhawks will take on the No. 15-seeded Detroit from the Horizon League on Friday, March 16, at approximately 8:57 p.m. (Central) at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. The game will be televised on truTV.

— KU Sports Information —

Kansas head coach Charlie Weis continues to make plays in the 2012 signing period as he added New York offensive lineman Aslam Sterling to his first Jayhawk haul Monday. Sterling, who comes to KU from Nassau Community College, is the 20th player to sign with KU in 2012, in addition to three January transfers, pushing Weis’ first class haul to a total of 23 athletes.

Sterling, who played left tackle at NCC, started every game of his two year career with the program leading the Lions to a combined 19-2 mark. Playing under Curt Gilliam at NCC, Sterling earned All-Northeast Football Conference honors in both his freshman and sophomore campaigns.

In 2010, Sterling was a part of an offensive line that was instrumental in helping NCC running back, Steven Miller, rush for more than 1,000 yards on his way to Northeast Conference Most Valuable Player and All-American honors. With Sterling leading the way, the Lions finished the 2010 season with a perfect 11-0 mark and No. 3 national ranking.

Sterling attended Bayside High School in Queens, N.Y., before moving on to NCC. He earned All-Borough and All-City honors, while playing both center and right guard at BHS.

The Springfield Garden, N.Y., native chose to sign with Kansas after receiving interest from West Virginia, Syracuse, Rutgers and Buffalo. He will graduate from NCC in May and join the Jayhawks in June in preparation for the 2012 football season.

Kansas will open 2012 spring football on Tuesday, March 27. The Jayhawks will host their annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 28 at 1 p.m., in Memorial Stadium.

— KU Sports Information —