April 1, 2009

DETROIT, Mich. - University of Washington men's basketball standout Justin Dentmon has been selected to play in the Hershey's College All-Star Game Friday at Ford Field.

The annual game, which is sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, is played each year at the site of the NCAA Final Four. This year's event is scheduled for a 1:35 p.m. (Pacific) tipoff and will be televised live by CBS College Sports.

"To have an opportunity to play in this game is really a blessing," said Dentmon. "It is just another validation that hard work really does pay off. I am excited to have a chance to show what I can do and play with a group of really talented players from across the country."

Dentmon, a native of Carbondale, Ill., earned first-team all-Pac-10 honors and was named the league's Most Improved Player after leading the Huskies to a 26-9 overall record and the regular-season conference title. He registered a career-best season, increasing his scoring average by nearly five points per game (14.4) and ended his career with 1,425 points.

The game features players who completed their NCAA eligibility in 2009. Other Pac-10 players participating are UCLA forward Alfred Aboya and Washington State center Aron Baynes. Dentmon and Baynes will be playing for the Hershey's All-Stars, which will be coached for former University of Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson. Aboya is a member of the Reese's All-Stars.

"I am really happy for Justin," said UW head coach Lorenzo Romar, the NABC District 20 Coach of the Year. "It is exciting to see that his hard work and perseverance have paid off - not only for our team during the season, as he led us to the Pac-10 championship, but that he is being recognized nationally by being selected to play in the Hershey's College All-Star Game."

About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, MO, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently claims nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.com.

About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and more than 12,000 employees. With revenues of more than $5 billion, Hershey offers such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers as well as the smooth, creamy indulgence of Hershey's Bliss. Hershey is a leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey's Special Dark and Hershey's Extra Dark. In addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger, Joseph Schmidt and Dagoba as well as Starbucks Chocolate. For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making a positive difference in the communities where we live, work and do business. The Milton Hershey School, established by the company's founder in 1909, provides a nurturing environment, quality education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social and financial need. The School is administered by the Hershey Trust Company, Hershey's largest shareholder, making the students of Milton Hershey School direct beneficiaries of Hershey's success. Please visit us at www.hersheys.com.