It was announced today by the The V Foundation for Cancer Research that freshman guard Alex Franz (Catonsville, Md./Cardinal Gibbons) is one of 14 finalists for the eighth annual V Foundation Comeback Award.  The award is presented in conjunction with ESPN and the recipient will be announced during ESPN's basketball Final Four/NIT weekend coverage.

Franz, along with Plattsburgh's Anthony Williams, are the only two Division III players among the finalists.  The breakdown of the other finalists is as follows: 10 from Division I, one from Division II and one from NAIA.

The annual award is open to men and women collegiate basketball student-athletes in all divisions.  It is awarded to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma.  Student-athletes are nominated by their athletics department representative.

Dealing with tragic losses in a 17-month span tested Franz's maturity and perseverance.  Three months after his 17th birthday, he lost his mother to cancer; in November of the same year, his JV coach was shot and killed; the following June his best friend was also shot and killed and two days later a classmate drowned; and the final tragic event was the death of his varsity coach of a massive heart attack.  Franz faced adversity at a time when other teens might have folded but a strong family unit has helped put these events into perspective and he has excelled in his freshman year at St. Mary's. 

Franz has played in all 28 games (22 starts) for the 17-11 Seahawks who are making their first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament this Friday after winning the Capital Athletic Conference's (CAC) automatic bid with an 82-72 victory over the University of Mary Washington in the CAC title game.  He leads the team in steals with 47 steals (5th in the CAC), while second (4^th in the CAC) in assists with 3.5 per game.  Franz also owns a 3.75 GPA as a political science major.

The award is presented in memory of Jim Valvano, the late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, whose personal battle with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation.  In his memorable speech at ESPN's inaugural ESPY Awards announcing the creation of The V Foundation, Valvano's "Don't Give Up. . . Don't Ever Give Up!"® motto created a legacy from which the Comeback Award was created.

"We continue to be amazed at the strength and resilience of the student-athletes who are nominated for The V Foundation Comeback Award," said V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano.  "These young people are outstanding student-athletes who have faced adversity and challenges with incredible determination and strength.

"This is the eighth year of the award, and again, the nominees capture the ‘Never Give Up' spirit of The V Foundation," Valvano continued.  "I would be honored to have my brother's name be remembered with each and every one of them."

The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit http://www.jimmyv.org/.

More information is available at:
http://athletics.smcm.edu/men%27s_basketball/0708releases/mbbFranz.pdf