USD’s Trofholz Garners Second National Player of the Year Honor; Becker Named to All-Freshman Team

3/27/2006

Redshirt freshman Jesse Becker (Plymouth, Minn.) was named to the 2006 Division II Bulletin All-Freshman Team.

BEAVERTON, ORE. (March 27, 2006) — South Dakota senior All-American forward Turner Trofholz has picked up his second national player of the year honor as he was named the 2006 Division II Bulletin Player of the Year, according to an announcement by the magazine today. The Division II Bulletin also recognized USD redshirt freshman guard Jesse Becker, who was named to the 2006 All-Freshman Team.

Trofholz, who was the Division II Bulletin’s Preseason Player of the Year, is featured in the magazine’s April issue, which was released today. A native of Schuyler, Neb., Trofholz has earned his second Player of the Year honor in three days after being named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Co-Player of the Year on Saturday. He will receive his NABC award during the Final Four in Indianapolis, Ind., this weekend. The NABC Players of the Year in Division I, II and III will be honored at the 2006 Cingular Wireless/NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Trofholz, who now has been selected to four All-American squads (D-II Bulletin, NABC, Daktronics, Inc., and Basketball Times) in 2005-06, joins Jim Daniels (1958), Nate Blessen (2000) and Tommie King (2003, 2004) as USD’s All-Americans in men’s basketball. Trofholz is the ninth player in North Central Conference history and just the second Coyote to earn back-to-back All-American honors (King). He is the only USD or NCC student-athlete to receive NABC national player of the year honors.

“This is a very nice honor and is well-deserved,” said USD head coach Dave Boots. “It is also a good reflection on our program and on Turner’s teammates who have attributed to his success, which is something he greatly appreciates.”

Trofholz led USD to an 88-35 record and three straight trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs. During that time, USD finished with three straight 20-win seasons (22-10, 2003-04; 27-6, 2004-05; and 20-10, 2005-06). Trofholz became the fifth Coyote named the MVP of the North Central Conference and just USD’s second two-time league MVP (Jim Daniels, 1957, 1958). This season, he led the North Central Conference in scoring at 21.7 points and rebounding at 9.8 boards per game. Trofholz, who was named the Daktronics, Inc., North Central Regional Player of the Year for 2005-06, also led the NCC in field goal shooting percentage at 58.3% (247-of-424).

A 6-8, 235-pound, forward, Trofholz is the first student-athlete in school history to accumulate 1,900 points (1,931; 3rd) and 900 rebounds (917; 2nd). Trofholz finished his career 10th-place in career blocked shots with 46 and he broke the career field goal percentage mark of 52.5% (881-of-1677) set by Tim Hatchett (1986-90; 120 games), by shooting 61.9% (750-of-1211) from the field in 123 career games. He scored in double figures 91 times, including 65 straight games to conclude his career. He also reached 20 or more points in a game 44 times while at USD and recorded 28 career double doubles, including 16 this past season. Last weekend, he scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the West Squad to a 134-122 win over the East Team in the inaugural Division II All Star game, which was held during the Elite Eight Men’s Basketball Championships in Springfield, Mass.

Earlier this season, Trofholz picked up preseason All-American honors from Street & Smith’s Magazine. Additionally, he garnered his second-straight ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America District VII and Academic All-NCC honor.

Joining Trofholz on the first team were Tayron Thomas of Philadelphia, Darius Hargrove of Virginia Union, Sullivan Sykes of Saint Joseph’s and Tony Binetti of Seattle Pacific. Trofholz was one of four players from the North Central Region selected to the DII Bulletin All-American teams. Tyrone Shephard of Fort Hays State was named to the third-team, while Winona State’s David Zellmann and Minnesota State’s Luke Anderson were both on the fourth-team.

Becker, a Plymouth, Minn., native, earlier was named the North Central Conference’s Freshman of the Year, the first Coyote to earn the award. The 5-11, point guard, averaged 12.5 points (9th, NCC) and recorded 100 assists (3.33/gm; 7th, NCC) in his first season. Becker also shot 44.7% (119-of-266) from the field, 42.5% (68-of-160) from three-point range (2nd, NCC) and 83.1% (69-of-83) at the foul line (3rd, NCC).

“Jesse had a fine season and this is an outstanding honor for him. We know he will continue to work hard and hopefully this is a sign of more good things to come for him,” said Boots.

Becker and Kyle Pape of Colorado Mines were the only representatives from the North Central Region on the all-freshman team.