February 25-March 2
Danny Ehnert, Lakeland College
...6'5...Senior...Forward...Sussex, Wis. (Hartland Arrowhead)...
Ehnert helped the Muskies complete an amazing run in the 2008 NAC Men's Basketball Tournament with their third overtime win of the week upsetting Aurora University, 82-77, to take the tournament title. Ehnert was an integral part of the Muskies' success, as he shot 50 percent from the field and recorded three double-doubles for the week highlighted by a 22-point, 16-rebound effort, both career records for him, to help the squad defeat Marian College in overtime in the semifinal game, 76-75. Ehnert was also just one assist away from a triple-double in Tuesday's quarterfinal win over Wisconsin Lutheran College, as he registered 10 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists.
February 18-24
Justin Gray, Concordia University Chicago
...6'5...Senior...Forward...Arlington Heights, Ill. (Prospect)...
Gray helped the Cougars to a two-game winning streak to end the season, playing both games despite a broken left (non-shooting) hand. The senior forward scored 17 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, and added 6 rebounds in CUC's 93-79 upset of Wisconsin Lutheran College last Wednesday. Gray then scored 23 points and pulled down 6 rebounds in a narrow 77-75 victory over Maranatha in Saturday's finale.
Other nominees: Larry Welton (Aurora University), Rashim Lettsome (Dominican University), Brian Donais (Edgewood College), Jerid Holewinski (Marian College), Nate Sorum (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
February 11-17
Chad Trudo, Aurora University
...6'1...Junior...Guard...Yorkville, Ill. ...
Trudo helped lead the Spartans to a 3-0 week that included clinching the 2007-2008 Northern Athletics Conference Championship. In AU's 98-89 win at Concordia University Wisconsin, Trudo had 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range and was 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Additionally he had five rebounds and three steals. In AU's 101-71 win over Concordia University Chicago, Trudo had 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range and 5-of-5 from the free throw line while grabbing 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
Jose Garcia, Dominican University
...6'1...Senior...Guard...Kenosha, Wis. (St. Joseph)...
Garcia helped the Dominican University Stars to two huge wins in NAC play this week, coming off the Stars' bench to score 38 points. In Dominican's 72-51 win over Benedictine on Tuesday night, Garcia scored a game-high 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the behind the three-point stripe. Garcia continued his hot shooting on Saturday in a 70-68 win over Marian College. Garcia connected on his first four three-point attempts to set a new Dominican University record for consecutive three point field goals made at 10 in a row. On the game Garcia poured in a team-high 18 points in 27 minutes off the Stars' bench. Garcia was 6-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from three.
Other nominees: James Morgan (Concordia University Chicago), John Fahey (Edgewood College), Austin Meier (MSOE), Marcus Zondag (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
February 4-10
Jordan Van Ess, Marian College
...6'7...Senior...Forward...Oostburg, Wis. ...
Van Ess helped the Sabres go 2-0 last week as he averaged 20.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. The senior forward had 15 points and 7 rebounds in Marian's 68-49 victory over Maranatha Baptist on Thursday. On Saturday against Aurora University, Van Ess scored a game-high 25 points and added 9 rebounds and 3 assists in an 85-78 victory over the NAC-leading Spartans. Van Ess shot 60% from the floor (12-of-20) which included 3-of-7 from the three-point arc, and also shot 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.
Other nominees: Jared Bailey (Benedictine University), James Morgan (Concordia University Chicago), Chris DeMarco (Edgewood College), Marcus Zondag (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
January 28-February 3
Jared Bailey, Benedictine University
...6'1...Junior...Guard...Argo, Ill. (Community)...
In a week when the Eagles faced two of the top teams in the NAC, Bailey rose to the occasion by averaging 26.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game, all while shooting 68% from the field and 58% from three-point range. Versus conference-leader Aurora University, Bailey tallied a team-leading 22 points in a tough 82-80 overtime-loss. He also tallied five rebounds, five assists and three steals in the game. On Saturday versus Concordia University Wisconsin, Bailey had a game-high 30 points, which included the game-winning basket with five seconds left, in the 78-77 victory. Against CUW, he also hit 10-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc.
Other nominees: Larry Welton (Aurora University), Chris DeMarco (Edgewood College), Logan Rankin (Marian College), Andy Voigt (MSOE), Danny Behm (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
January 21-27
Marcus Zondag, Wisconsin Lutheran College
...6'4...Senior...Forward...Randolph, Wis. ...
Zondag posted back-to-back double-doubles in two victories this past week, averaging 23.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 29 points and finished with 11 rebounds in a 93-75 win over Benedictine on Wednesday. Earlier in the week in a 96-87 victory at Rockford, Zondag tallied 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. For the week, he shot 68 percent (15-of-22) from the floor, including 71 percent (5-of-7) from three-point range as well as averaging 3.5 assists. This is Zondag's second-straight NAC Student-Athlete of the Week award.
Other nominees: Mike Leonard (Aurora University), Brian Genslinger (Benedictine University), Justin Gray (Concordia University Chicago), John Fahey (Edgewood College), Kris Saiberlich (Lakeland College), Scott Murphy (MSOE).
January 14-20
Marcus Zondag, Wisconsin Lutheran College
...6'4...Senior...Forward...Randolph, Wis. ...
Zondag nearly averaged a double-double in two victories this past week by putting up 21.0 points and grabbing 9.5 rebounds per game. His week was highlighted by a 28-point, 11-rebound performance in a 99-87 win over Maranatha Baptist on Tuesday where he also had a team-high 6 assists. On Saturday, the senior forward tallied 14 points and 8 rebounds in the Warriors' 103-94 win at Lakeland College. For the week, he shot a combined 56 percent from the floor, including 50 percent from three-point range.
Other nominees: Larry Welton (Aurora University), Justin Gray (Concordia University Chicago), Jon Ciche (Edgewood College), Kris Saiberlich (Lakeland College), Logan Rankin (Marian College), Scott Murphy (MSOE).
January 7-13
Charlie Averkamp, Edgewood College
...6'6...Senior...Forward...New Berlin, Wis. (West)...
Averkamp had a season-high 24 points and game-high 10 rebounds in the Eagles' 75-68 road win over MSOE last Wednesday. In Saturday's victory over Benedictine University, Averkamp recorded his fourth straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, as well as adding 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks. Earlier in the week the senior forward recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds in only 25 minutes of play in a 83-62 win over Crown College (Minn.) in a nonconference tilt.
Other nominees: Chad Trudo (Aurora University), Rashim Lettsome (Dominican University), Christian Lindberg (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
December 31-January 6
Jared Bailey, Benedictine University
...6'1...Junior...Guard...Argo, Ill. (Community)...
Bailey had 14 points and 6 boards in the Eagles' conference win over Dominican University last Wednesday, snapping a four-game skid by the team. In a tough loss to No. 14 Elmhurst College on Saturday, Bailey lit up the Bluejays for 33 points to lead all scorers. Bailey notched nice shooting percentages in all areas: 57% from the field, 67% from the three-point area and 82% from the free throw stripe. The junior guard also tallied seven assists and four steals in the two contests.
Other nominees: Danny Behm (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
December 24-30
Larry Welton, Aurora University
...6'6...Senior...Forward...Chicago, Ill. (Thornwood)...
Welton surpassed the 2,000 point mark for his career on the week in which he averaged 28.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. In AU's opening game victory over Baldwin-Wallace at Franklin College, Welton scored 45 points on 15-of-27 shooting from the field, grabbed 11 rebounds, had 4 assists, 3 blocked shots and 3 steals. The 45 points is good for second all-time at AU in a single game (two shy of the record) and he is only the 3rd player to reach 2,000 points all-time at AU.
Other nominees: Chris DeMarco (Edgewood College), Kyle Plath (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
December 17-23
Scott Murphy, MSOE
...6'5...Senior...Forward...Sheboygan, Wis. (South)...
On Tuesday, December 18, Murphy scored 19 points shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-2 from the behind the three-point arch, as the Raiders downed Webster University 87-65. On Thursday, Murphy was 8-of-17 from the field, but a perfect 14-for-14 from the charity stripe to score a season-high 30 points in a 76-74 come from behind victory over Maryville University (Mo.). In addition to his 24.5 points per game average, Murphy also tallied 11 rebounds, 4 assists in 3 steals in the two contests.
Other nominees: Larry Welton (Aurora University), Jared Bailey (Benedictine University).
December 10-16
Larry Welton, Aurora University
...6'6...Senior...Forward...Chicago, Ill. (Thornwood)...
Welton had stellar week that included Spartan wins at Rockford College (94-70) and MSOE (70-63). In AU's win at Rockford, Welton scored 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field, had 4 rebounds and dished out 7 assists while committing no turnovers. In the win at MSOE, Welton had a game-high 22 points and added six rebounds and two blocked shots. For the week Welton averaged 27.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
Other nominees: Justin Gray (Concordia University Chicago), Jon Ciche (Edgewood College), Jordan Van Ess (Marian College), Austin Meier (MSOE), Danny Behm (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
December 3-9
Jared Bailey, Benedictine University
...6'1...Junior...Guard...Argo, Ill. (Community)...
Bailey averaged a double-double of 28.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as the Eagles split a pair of conference games last week. The junior guard shot over 51 percent from the field and over 89 percent from the free throw line, while he averaged 4.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game. Bailey had game-highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 63-60 victory at MSOE. On Saturday in a close 85-81 loss at Aurora University, Bailey again led all scorers and rebounders, scoring a career-high 39 points and grabbed 9 boards.
Other nominees: Shane Roland (Aurora University), Justin Gray (Concordia University Chicago), Jovan Turley (Dominican University), Chris DeMarco (Edgewood College), Kris Saiberlich (Lakeland College), Mike Knepp (Maranatha Baptist Bible College), Logan Rankin (Marian College), Marcus Zondag (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
November 26 - December 2
Josh Burch, Maranatha Baptist Bible College
...6'0...Senior...Guard...Eau Claire, Wis. (Altoona)...
In three games for the Crusaders, Burch was 21-for-45 from the field and 19-for-24 from charity stripe, averaging 22.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Burch also had one blocked shot and five steals as he led the Crusaders to a perfect 3-0 record at the NCCAA Midwest Tip-Off Tournament. In the 99-90 win against Lincoln Christian College, Burch nearly pulled off a triple-double as he scored 33 points, had 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
Other nominees: Jared Bailey (Benedictine University), Justin Gray (Concordia University Chicago), Chris DeMarco (Edgewood College), Aaron Regal (Lakeland College), Jerid Holewinski (Marian College).
November 19-25
Dan Klecan, Benedictine University
...6'6...Sophomore...Guard...Palos Hills, Ill. (Stagg)...
Versus NCAA Division I foe Northwestern on Tuesday, Klecan was the game's leading scorer with 22 points. In the loss, Klecan was 6-of-9 from three-point range as BU out-shot the Wildcats from long range, 13-10. The 23 treys was a Northwestern record for combined three-point baskets made in a game. Klecan was also the Eagles' leading scorer with 15 points in the loss to unbeaten North Central College on Saturday. Klecan shot 52% from the field and 58% from three-point range while averaging 18.5 points per game last week.
Other nominees: Jarrett Starwood (Aurora University), Ryan Ward (Concordia University Chicago), John Fahey (Edgewood College), Marcus Zondag (Wisconsin Lutheran College).
November 16-18
Kyle Plath, Wisconsin Lutheran College
...6-4...Junior...Guard...Lake Geneva, Wis. (Shoreland Luth.)...
Plath poured in a career-high 27 points on Saturday in the Warriors 88-80 win over Cornell College, leading WLC to its first 2-0 start since 2001-02. In two games, he shot 52 percent (15-29) from the floor, including 43 percent (6-14) from three-point range. For the week he averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, and added 2 steals and a block on the defensive end.
Other nominees: Larry Welton (Aurora University), Ryan Ward (Concordia University Chicago), Mike Haiduc (Dominican University), Charlie Averkamp (Edgewood College), Kris Saiberlich (Lakeland College), Kevin Hudac (Marian College), Scott Murphy (MSOE), Ed Thomas (Rockford College).