Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams Announced

Williams' Coffin Selected as Player of the Year

HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior forward Ben Coffin was named 2003-04 NESCAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year in a vote of the conference coaches. Coffin, a repeat first-team selection, averaged 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds leading top-ranked Williams to a 26-1 mark and their second consecutive NESCAC Championship. The senior forward, named Most Outstanding Player at the 2003 NCAA Division III Final Four, is Williams’ second all-time career rebounder with 775.

Joining Coffin as repeat selections on the first team is teammate Michael Crotty and Wesleyan senior Kanem Johnson. Crotty, one of only five players in Division III history to record over 750 assists in a career (777) and a finalist for both the Bob Cousy Point Guard award and Jostens Trophy, leads the nation in assists averaging 7.67 per game. Johnson, who became Wesleyan’s all-time leading scorer this season with 1,692 career points, led the conference in both scoring and rebounding averaging 22.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg.

Adam Harper of Amherst was named NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Harper, who was also honored as a first-team all-conference selection, ranks fifth in the nation in steals averaging 3.48 per game.

Tyler Rhoten, the 2002-03 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, rounds out the first-team selections. Rhoten ranks second in the conference in scoring averaging 22.5 points per contest while pulling down 8.2 rebounds per game.

Bates’s Zak Ray and Robert Taylor of Trinity shared conference Rookies of the Year honors. Ray, ranked fourth in the conference in assists (4.35 apg) and steals (2.04 spg), led the Bobcats to the conference semifinals. Taylor helped Trinity (22-4 overall) earn an at-large selection to the NCAA Division III Championship averaging 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Williams, who earned an automatic berth by winning the conference championship, and Amherst (24-3 overall), who received an at-large berth, will also participate in the tournament.

After repeating as NESCAC Champions, Williams head coach Dave Paulsen was named NESCAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Paulsen, the 2003 National Coach of the Year, has guided the Ephs to a 26-1 overall mark this season and is 100-15 in four years at Williams.

NESCAC all-conference selections are determined in a vote by the conference coaches. Additional players honored are due to ties in the voting.

2003-04 NESCAC Men's Basketball All-Conference