Posted by Scott Cummings - Thu, Mar 27, 2008 - [ Men's Basketball ] - Viewed 145 times
Eric Palm was the AMC Player of the Year in 2007-08
Eric Palm was the AMC Player of the Year in 2007-08
(LEBANON, Ill., March 27)—Four players from the American Midwest Conference were honored by the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball All-America Committee for their play during the 2007-08 season.

McKendree University junior Eric Palm was named to the NAIA Division I first-team All-America squad. Another junior, University of Illinois at Springfield’s Kelvin Johnson, picked up second-team All-America honors, while Columbia College senior Trae Hall was a third-team selection. McKendree freshman Eric Hobbie rounded out the list by picking up NAIA honorable mention All-America accolades. The honors were announced at the conclusion of Tuesday’s NAIA Division I National Championship game in Kansas City, Mo.

Palm, a guard from Machesney Park, Ill., was named the AMC Player of the Year for 2007-08. He led the Bearcats in scoring at 19.4 points per game and free throw percentage at 82.7 percent. In addition, Palm was second on the squad with 83 three-point field goals and third in assists with 104. Palm helped lead McKendree to a 27-7 overall record and a 13-1 mark in AMC play. The Bearcats captured the AMC regular-season and tournament championships, and qualified for the NAIA national tournament. McKendree reached the NAIA Tournament second round for the second consecutive year.

Johnson, a guard from Maywood, Ill., finished second on the Prairie Stars’ squad in scoring at 14.9 points per game. He led the AMC in assists at 4.8 per game, and also paced UIS with 53 steals. Johnson, the 2005-06 AMC Freshman of the Year, shot 49 percent from the field and helped the Prairie Stars to a 22-10 record this season.

Hall, a guard from Tulsa, Okla., was Columbia’s leading scorer at 15 points per game. He made a team-high 69 three-point field goals and also topped the team in free throw percentage at 82.7 percent. Hall was a big factor in helping the Cougars to an at-large bid to the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. Columbia wrapped up its 2007-08 season with an overall record of 25-9.

Hobbie, a forward from Vandalia, Ill., posted 15.2 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per contest on his way to AMC Freshman of the Year honors. He led the Bearcats with 49 blocked shots and was second on the team with 36 steals. Hobbie shot just under 49 percent from the field and connected on 39 percent of his tries from three-point range.