Thompson Named DIII News Preseason National Player of the Year

St. Louis, Mo., October 7, 2009 –Washington University in St. Louis senior guard Aaron Thompson has been named the 2009 DIII News Preseason Player of the Year, as announced by the publication on Wednesday.

Thompson heads the publication’s Top-24 All-Americans that features three players from each of the eight regions. Graduate student Sean Wallis was also named a Top-24 selection.

Thompson, the 2009 University Athletic Association (UAA) Most Valuable Player, averaged a team-best 18.0 points per game and led the conference with 96 three-pointers made. A first-team D3hoops.com and DIII News All-America honoree, he scored in double figures in 29-of-31 games played last season. Thompson averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds at the Final Four en route to NCAA All-Tournament Team honors.

"As the reigning MVP of the toughest Division III league in the country, Aaron has shown he is one of the top players in the country," said DIII News editor Gary Rubin. "He is expected to have another outstanding year and is most deserving of this award."

Thompson enters his senior season ranked second in school history in three-pointers (220), sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.434), ninth in steals (129), 10th in free-throw percentage (.793), 11th in assists (269) and 17th in scoring (1,124).

DIII News, founded in 1993, is the leading publication covering Division III basketball. It is published by GSR Communications based in Beaverton, Ore.

Washington University, ranked No. 1 in the Sporting News and DIII News Preseason Polls, begins its defense on Sunday, Nov. 15, at home against MacMurray College. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at the WU Field House.