U. of Chicago's Derek Reich Named UAA Player of the Year

University of Chicago sophomore Derek Reich (Niles, Ill./West) was named the 2001 University Athletic Association Player of the Year, as the UAA announced its All-Association Men's Basketball Team today.

A repeat Player of the Year selection, Reich led Chicago to the UAA championship with a 14-1 mark in league play. He led the Maroons in scoring (20.2), rebounding (8.8), field goal percentage (.552), and free throws made and attempted (113, 151). He broke the school's season scoring record - which he set with 487 points last season - with 505 points during the 2000-01 regular season.

Reich is the third player in UAA history, and the first since 1992, to earn consecutive Player of the Year awards. This season marks the third straight year that a Chicago player has won or shared the award. Andy Strommen was voted co-UAA Player of the Year in 1999.

Senior Jim Waichulis (Schiller Park, Ill./Leyden) joined Reich on the All-UAA First Team. A first-time selection, Waichulis was Chicago's most prolific three-point shooter during the regular season with 55 three-pointers in 135 attempts for a .407 clip. He was the team's second-leading scorer with 10.4 points per contest.

Another first-time All-UAA honoree, junior Tyler Smithson (Kirkland, Wash./Lake Washington) was chosen to the All-Association Second Team. Smithson led the team in assists (97), steals (31), and three-point percentage (.549) during the regular season, while scoring 7.6 points per outing.

Three other players - seniors Mike Agema (Palos Park, Ill./Stagg), Brad Henderson (Loveland, Ohio/ Loveland), and junior Jon Poyer (Collierville, Tenn./Brother Rice, Mich.) were noted as honorable mention All-UAA picks. Agema averaged 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. A Rhodes Scholar, Henderson scored 7.1 points per contest and ranked second on the team with 32 three-pointers. Poyer averaged 7.6 points and 3.7 boards per game.

Currently ranked first in the NCAA Division III poll, Chicago finished the regular season with a record of 22-3 and earned an automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Division III tournament .

Competing in the NCAA Division III Championship for the fourth time in the past five seasons, Chicago earned a first-round bye in this year's tournament. On Saturday, Mar. 3 at 7:00 p.m., the Maroons will host the winner of a Thursday, Mar. 1 game between Benedictine University and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Saturday's game will be held at Chicago's Henry Crown Field House, where the Maroons have won 46 of their last 47 contests and 63 of their last 65 dating back to Feb. 1, 1996.