PacWest Release
   
Phoenix, AZ -- Niko Leite was recently tabbed as the Academy of Art Athlete of the Week, and gained recognition from the PacWest Conference, making the ninth edition of the PacWest Top 10 Honor Roll. The selection was announced by the PacWest Media Office on April 3 for games played March 27-April 2.

Leite hit .545 for the Urban Knights in three games of the four-game set against Dixie State, going 6-for-11 with a run and a double. The senior had a .636 slugging rate and a .545 on-base mark for the week. He is riding a four-game hitting streak, one short of his high for the year of five straight to start off the 2012 season. Leite has hit safely in seven of the past eight contests, hitting .370 (10-27) over that span, with 2 RBIs and three runs scored.

Leite is hitting .238 on the year, is 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. He also has three doubles and two triples. The senior from Rodeo, CA has spent time at catcher, second base, third base, left field and right field, designated hitter, and has even pitched 8.2 innings for the Urban Knights. This marks his first Honor Roll selection of 2012, and the fourth of his career.