Monday, March 26, 2012

Valparaiso junior forward Ryan Broekhoff (Frankston, Victoria, Australia/Australian Institute of Sport) was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press on Monday.  Broekhoff becomes just the fourth Crusader in Valpo’s Division I era to earn All-American honors on the hardwood.

Broekhoff was named the Horizon League Player of the Year this season after leading Valpo to its first Horizon League regular season championship and a berth in the 2012 Postseason NIT.  The junior led the team and the league in rebounding this season, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game, and also paced the Crusaders with 14.9 points per game, good for fourth in the league.  He also ranked among the league’s top-10 in free throw percentage (.795, 4^th), 3-pointers/game (1.9, 6^th), steals (1.3, 9^th) and 3-point percentage (.391, 10^th).

Broekhoff was one of just 58 honorees nationwide who were named to one of the AP’s three All-American teams or the Honorable Mention list, and was the only Horizon League player to earn the nod.  Broekhoff joins John Meyne (The Sporting News, honorable mention, 1983 & 1984), Bryce Drew (Basketball Times, Third Team, 1998) and Lubos Barton (Associated Press, honorable mention, 2002) as the only Valpo players to earn All-American consideration since the program moved to Division I.