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

2009-2010 D3hoops.com All-America Teams

Mar. 22, 2010 - North Central College men's basketball player Derek Raridon has been honored as the NCAA Division III National Rookie of the Year by D3hoops.com.

The announcement was made as part of the release of D3hoops.com's 2009-2010 All-America Teams. The Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the most outstanding freshman or first-year transfer in all of Division III. This is the third year that D3hoops.com has selected a Rookie of the Year.

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.

College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Player of the Year honoree Steve Djurickovic of Carthage College was named the National Player of the Year and selected to the All-America First Team, while Wheaton College's Tim McCrary was named to the Second Team and Ben Panner, also of Wheaton, received Honorable Mention status.

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