SALEM, Va. --- Moravian College senior forward Camille McPherson has been selected as one of 20 student-athletes – 10 women and 10 men – as finalists for the 2017 Jostens Trophy presented by the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club.
The Jostens Trophy is awarded to an outstanding NCAA Division III men's and women's basketball player who excels on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. This season marks the 20th presentation of the awards, with the inaugural trophies bestowed in 1998. The 2017 Jostens Trophy winners will be announced on March 10 and the award will be presented on March 16 in Salem. The 20 finalists remain in the running for this season's honors from a record number of candidates in the original pool. The Rotary Club of Salem is responsible for the initial review of nominations and narrowed the collection of candidates over the past two weeks.
The Salem Rotary Club's Jostens Trophy Committee employs a numerical rating to narrow the list of finalists so that the decision can be made on the most objective basis possible. The 20 finalists continue thru the review process, with a national selection committee of 32 individuals charged with determining the two winners of the 2017 Jostens Trophy honors.
"I have had the opportunity to work and mentor many student athletes over my 30 year career, but rarely have I come across such a special person like Camille," stated Director of Athletics George L. Bright. "Camille is a goal oriented, dedicated and self motivated scholar with a stellar work ethic. She rises to the occasion every time and is at her best when her best is needed. Her tremendous leadership is set by her drive, her ability to lead by example and inspire others on and off the court. She is unselfish, and well respected by the campus community and her teammates. I have found that Camille's quiet, but competitive nature is the catalyst of her outstanding performance, particularly when under pressure. As an educator, I believe that Camille epitomizes what a student athlete can be."
McPherson has helped Moravian to a 19-7 record this winter and the program's 16th consecutive postseason appearance. McPherson leads the Greyhounds in scoring at 22.7 points per game, and her 589 points this winter are the third most in a single season in school history. McPherson also leads the Hounds on the boards at 8.8 rebounds per game to go with a team high 53 three-pointers and eight double-doubles. She has added 74 assists, 18 steals and 14 blocked shots, and McPherson is shooting 82.2 percent at the foul line (134-of-163), 47.3 percent from the floor (201-of-425) and 38.4 percent beyond the arc (53-of-138).
This winter, McPherson has already been named the Lehigh Valley Small College Women's Basketball Pete Nevins Player of the Year while earning a spot on the LVSCB Team of the Year, and she is a four-time Landmark Conference Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week honoree in 2016-17 to go with a spot on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week once, the ECAC Division III Metro Player of the Week once and the United States Basketball Writers Association Division III National Player of the Week once.
"Recognized as a finalist for the Jostens Trophy is a huge accomplishment for Camille," noted Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "Her commitment to basketball has been noted on a daily basis this season, but her willingness to give back in the community and her dedication to academics is often unseen. This recognition speaks volumes about Camille's overall talent, drive and desire to excel in all phases of her life. I, along with the coaching staff and her teammates, am proud and honored to have Camille represent Moravian women's basketball."
Off of the court, McPherson maintains a 3.63 GPA while majoring in political science and minoring in sociology and Spanish. She is a two-time selection to the Landmark Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll, and she has made the dean's list in each of her semesters at Moravian. McPherson was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team earlier today along with seven of the other nine female Jostens Trophy finalists.
McPherson is also active in community service having taken part in Moravian's Play 4Kay efforts to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund the last two years including working clinics in Bethlehem and Springfield, New Jersey as well as the Cops 'n Kids program reading and mentoring elementary school students at William Penn, Thomas Jefferson and Fountain Hill Elementary Schools in Bethlehem as well as working at a Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs AAA baseball game each fall to benefit the program. McPherson has also taken part in the American Heart Association Heartwalk, Cedarbrook Nursing Home Dream Catchers events, Pathways to Santa Christmas caroling at Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg, the Buddy Walk for Special Olympics, Moravian's after school program with Marvine Elementary School, William Penn's day at Moravian, and Moravian College's Day of Service at Northeast Middle School.
Moravian is set to return to action on Wednesday, March 1 in the first round of the 2017 ECAC Division III Championship Tournament when the Greyhounds host Centenary (N.J.) University in Johnston Hall with tip-off at 7:00 p.m.
To view the entire list of the 2017 Men's and Women's Jostens Trophy Finalists, visit http://www.odaconline.com/jostens/index.
