March 25, 2009

MIT Senior Jimmy Bartolotta Named NABC Player of the Year

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Enjoying another historic program first, MIT senior guard Jimmy Bartolotta reached the pinnacle of individual achievement as he was tabbed the D3Hoops National Player of the Year in men's basketball in addition to honors as First Team All-American. Bartolotta was also named the 2009 State Farm Coaches' Division III Player of the Year as selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

Bartolotta is the MIT and NEWMAC all-time leading scorer with 2,279 points. He has ranked among the league leaders in nearly every category for the last three years, and has won the conference scoring title three consecutive times. This year, Bartolotta averaged 27.6 points per game to rank second nationally.

Last week, Bartolotta was presented with the coveted Jostens Trophy at the site of the NCAA Division III Final Four. Previously, he was tabbed ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America of the Year as presented by the College Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA).

The Littleton, Colo., native will receive his national award at the AT&T/NABC Guardians of the Game awards show on Sunday, April 5, at the Max M. Fisher Music Theater in Detroit, Mich.

"We're excited for Jimmy," said head coach Larry Anderson. "He's worked incredibly hard to get himself into this position, and his success as an individual is only surpassed by what he has done for the program."

Bartolotta has also been selected to play in the Hershey's College All-Star Game on Friday, April 3, at Ford Field in Detroit. The All-Star Game, which is presented by the NABC, is free to the public and will be televised live on CBS College Sports Network at 4:35 p.m. Bartolotta and Division II National Player of the Year Josh Bostic of Findlay are the only two non-Division I players competing in the game.