Feb. 23, 2010

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University freshman forward Chris Gaston is currently ranked ninth among all freshmen in the country according to the latest Rivals.com Basketball Power Rankings. He moves up from the 13th spot last week and is the top-rated freshman from the Atlantic 10, joined only by Charlotte's Chris Braswell, who is 24th, on the list.

Gaston also appears in two online entries, one from Sean Brennan of the NY Daily News ( Gaston Worth a Look at Fordham) and one from Howard Goldin of NY Sportsday ( Fordham Freshman Chris Gaston, A Star is Born).

A pair of Kentucky freshmen tops the Rivals.com list with John Wall at the top and DeMarcus Cousins at number two. Brooklyn's Lance Stephenson (Cincinnati) also makes the list, eight spots behind Gaston at 17th.

On the year, Gaston, who has scored at least 20 points eleven times this season and over 30 points three times, is fourth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring, averaging 18.0 ppg, and is ranked second in rebounding, averaging 11.0 rpg. He leads all NCAA Division I freshmen in rebounding (Cousins is second at 10.1 rpg) and his 450 points scored this year is the second highest total for a freshman in school history. Gaston is also ranked 68th in the nation in scoring (18.0 ppg) and tied for 84th in blocks (1.7 bpg).

Gaston has 16 doubles-doubles this year is the second most for any Atlantic 10 player and tied for eighth in the NCAA. Gaston also leads the team and is ranked eighth in the conference in blocks with 43 (1.7 blocks/game) and is ninth in the league in field goal percentage, converting 166 of his 369 shoots (45.0%).

For a complete look at the Rivals.com Basketball Power Ratings for freshmen, click here.

The Rams will next be in action on Wednesday night as they host the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies in an Atlantic 10 contest in the Rose Hill Gym at 7:00 PM. The game can be heard live on WFUV (90.7 FM) and www.wfuv.org.