March 19, 2004
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Keelan Amelianovich has been chosen as the "Player of the Year" in the Midwest Region in selection done by the Division III members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches within the region.
Amelianovich, a 6-foot-6 forward from Naperville (Neuqua Valley HS), was a first team all-region selection, matching the honor received earlier this week with the D3hoops.com all-Midwest region team. He is the first Titan to earn Midwest Region "Player of the Year" since Brent Niebrugge in 1998.
The 88 student-athletes selected for all-NABC honors, from eight districts, are now eligible for the NABC Division III All-American Team.
Amelianovich, who was "Most Outstanding Player" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and a first team all-CCIW selection, averaged a team-high 17.9 points per game in leading IWU to a 21-7 season.
Amelianovich was the Titans' leading scorer in 18 games and top rebounder in seven. He connected on a school record 82 3-point field goals and, through games of March 14, he was second in the nation with a .506 3-point shooting percentage (82-of-162).
His 502 points this winter is 22nd most in an IWU season and he ranks 14th all-time at the school with 88 3-pointers.
Amelianovich was joined on the six-man first team all-Midwest squad by Wheaton's Joel Kolmodin, Thad McCracken of Hanover, Chris Braier of Lawrence, Stephen Bash of Maryville (Mo.), and Craig Neganguard of Eureka.
Chosen to the second team were Augustana's Drew Carstens, Matt Moore of Hanover, Cory Nickel if Lakeland, Barry Bryant of Washington U., and Grinnell's Steve Wood.
The Midwest Region "Coach of the Year" honors were shared by Hanover's Mike Beitzel and John Tharp of Lawrence.
Other than Amelianovich and Niebrugge, other Illinois Wesleyan players who have been first team NABC all-region choices include Luke Kasten (2001), Korey Coon (1998, 1999), Bryan Crabtree (1997), Chris Simich (1995, 1996), Steve Kuehl (1992), David Caldwell (1991), Jeff Kuehl (1989, 1990), Blaise Bugajski (1983, 84) and Greg Yess (1981).
