FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

2009-2010 D3hoops.com All-Midwest Region Teams

Mar. 16, 2010 - North Central College men's basketball player Derek Raridon has been named the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Rookie of the Year by D3hoops.com.

The Rookie of the Year distinction, which comes as part of the release of D3hoops.com's All-Region Teams, is bestowed upon the most outstanding freshman or first-year transfer in each of the eight regions in Division III. This is the third year that D3hoops.com has named a Rookie of the Year in each region.

Raridon ranked second in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin in scoring (21.3 ppg), fourth in three-point percentage (.430) and sixth in rebounds (5.6 rpg) and free-throw percentage (.820) this season, establishing a new North Central record for points scored by a freshman (532). He scored in double figures in 24 of 25 games this season and was at his best in conference play, tallying a season-high 34 points against Illinois Wesleyan University and 33 against North Park University.

Raridon's scoring average ranked 24th nationally in Division III and was second only to Blair Rozenblad of Thiel College (Pa.) in scoring among freshmen.

Both of the previous Midwest Region Rookie of the Year Award winners, Steve Djurickovic of Carthage College and Tim McCrary of Wheaton College, were on the All-Midwest Region First Team this season, and Djurickovic was also named the Midwest Region Player of the Year.

North Central finished the 2009-2010 campaign with an overall record of 12-13 and a 5-9 finish in conference play.