Macalester can now add a NCAA Division III men’s basketball first team All-America to its list of student achievements, thanks to www.D3Hoops.com. Ben Van Thorre ’04, along with four other players chosen among 390 Division III schools nationally, was selected for this honor. Van Thorre joins players from perennial Division III powerhouses such as Williams College and Wheaton College. Van Thorre has also been named MIAC MVP for this season.

Van Thorre played a large part in helping the Scots achieve second place in the MIAC, their best season in 24 years. Since his career began, the team has improved immensely. As a first-year, Van Thorre started all 23 games for a squad that finished 8-12 in MIAC play. The following year the team qualified for its first trip to the playoffs, earning a first-round home victory over St. John’s.

This season, Van Thorre led the conference in scoring and rebounding and broke the school record for scoring with an all-time high 1,707 points. He averaged 18.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He had 14 20-point games and nine double-doubles.

Van Thorre’s successes are attributed to more than just his talent. “One thing people might not know is that Ben is far and away the hardest worker you’ll ever meet and he definitely put in the work to get that award,” team member Jon Van Wagenen ’06 said. Lars Johnson ’07 added that he’s “never seen anyone get so amped before a game. It’s love of the game.”

Though he is graduating this May, Van Thorre’s impression on the program will likely be long-lasting. In addition to his significant contribution to the program’s turnaround, Van Thorre has inspired younger players as well. “He’s taught me a lot about what it takes to be a great player at this level,” Trevor Jepma ’07 said.