It is now time to present to you the inaugural Earlaustinjr.com All-Area Colleges team, which features the top players from the area’s NCAA Division II, Division III and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) programs. As a graduate and former player at Lindenwood University, there will always be a special place in my heart for those athletes who excel at these area colleges. They may not get the recognition and accolades that big-school counterparts receive, but they are just as dedicated to the game.

Each year, this website will recognize these top players for their stellar efforts with a listing of the men’s and women’s First and Second Teams, plus capsules of the First-Team members.

  The first Earlaustinjr.com Area College Player of the Year Awards go All-Americans Sean Wallis of Washington University and Eric Hobbie of McKendree for the men and Zoe Unruh (pictured) of Division III national champion Washington University for the women.

   Here is a closer look at the Earlaustinjr.com First Team All-Area Colleges Men’s Team.

  Beaumont Beasley (UMSL): The 6’0” sophomore guard from Kansas City was the top player for the Tritons during the 2010 season. He was equally capable of playing either guard position. As a sophomore, Beasley averaged 14.9 points a game while handing out 127 assists to lead the Tritons in both categories. He also averaged nearly four rebounds a game and had 31 steals while playing a game-high 34 minutes a game against the stellar competition of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, which is one of the top conferences in NCAA Division II basketball.

  Eric Hobbie (McKendree): The 6’6” junior from Vandalia, Ill. was named to the NAIA All-American First Team after leading the Bearcats to a 27-7 record and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. Hobbie averaged 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free-throw line. He led McKendree with 74 3-pointers made. Hobbie also had 52 steals, 60 assists and 60 blocks. He was voted the American Midwest Conference Player of the Year after leading the Bearcats to the regular season and post-season conference championships.

  Brandon Roberson (Missouri Baptist): a A 5’10” senior guard from Rosharon, Tx, Roberson was a high-scoring guard for the Spartans. He averaged 19.9 points a game to lead the American Midwest Conference in scoring and finish 12^th nationally among NAIA schools. Roberson also averaged 3.5 assists and nearly two steals a game in earning First Team All-AMC honors. He scored 30 points in an 81-78 upset victory over AMC champion McKendree on Feb. 13. He was voted the AMC Player of the Week three times during the season.

  Aaron Thompson (Washington University): A 6’4” senior guard from Elida Ohio, Thompson was one-half of a stellar backcourt that led the Bears to a NCAA Division III national championship in 2009 and a 24-3 season in 2010. As a senior, Thompson averaged 17.3 points a game to lead the University Athletic Association in scoring. He also led the UAA with 69 made 3-pointers. He was an First Team All-UAA selection and a All-American Second Team selection. Thompson finished his career with 1,591 points, 289 3-pointers and 340 assists.

  Sean Wallis (Washington University): The 6’2” graduate student from Northbrook, Ill. was a First Team NCAA Division III All-American selection by D3hoops.com. Wallis was the Player of the Year in the University Athletic Association after leading the Bears to the conference title. As a senior, Wallis averaged 12.7 points a game. He also averaged 7.7 assists, hit 82 percent of his free throws and had a 2.5 to 1 assists-to-turnover ratio. Wallis finished his career as Washington University’s all-time leader in assists with 773. He also scored 1,213 points during his stellar career, which included two national championships.

  Here is a capsule look at the first Earlaustinjr.com All-Area Colleges Team for Women.

  Ashley Agee (McKendree): The 5’6” junior guard from Moberly, Mo. led the Bearcats to a 25-7 record and a share of the American Midwest Conference championship and a berth in the NAIA national tournament. Agee averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from 3-point territory. She lead the Bearcats in scoring and 3-point shooting percentage in earning First Team All-AMC honors.

  Janice Evans (Washington University): A 5’10” senior forward from Bolingbrook, Ill., Evans was a frontcourt stalwart on the Bears 29-2 team that won the NCAA Division III national championships. Evans was a selected a Third-Team All-American by NCAA DIII News. As a senior, Evans averaged 10.1 points and six rebounds a game while providing solid defensive play on the Bears’ frontcourt.

  Jaimie McFarlin (Washington University): The 5’11” graduate student from Monroe, N.Y. was a stellar inside player for the Bears’ national championship team. She was a first-team All-University Athletic Association selection for the second consecutive year after averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds a game. McFarlin had 19 points and 14 rebounds against Amherst College in the NCAA national semifinals and 14 points and 15 rebounds against Hope College in the national championship game.

  Jessica Moore (Missouri Baptist): The 6’1” junior forward from Belleville, Ill. was one of the top players in the American Midwest Conference. A force in the paint, Moore led the Spartans in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots in earning First Team All-American Midwest Conference honors. Moore led the AMC in scoring at 17.4 points a game. She also led the conference in field goal shooting at 54 percent from the field.

   Zoe Unruh (Washington University): The 6’0” senior guard from San Francisco was the leading scorer and top perimeter shooter for the 2010 national champions. She earned All-UAA First Team honors for the second consecutive season. Unruh averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and a team-high 40 percent from beyond the 3-point line. Unruh had 19 points against Amherst in the national semifinals and 13 points in the national championship victory against Hope College.

Earlaustinjr.com All-Area College Teams

Men

First Team

Beaumont Beasley 6’0” UMSL (Sophomore)

Eric Hobbie 6’6” McKendree (Junior)

Brandon Roberson 5’10” Missouri Baptist (Senior)

Aaron Thompson 6’4” Washington University (Senior)

Sean Wallis 6’2” Washington University (Graduate)

Second Team

Toriano Adams 6’3” Lindenwood (Senior)

Ken Detmer 6’6” McKendree (Junior)

Ryan Lawrence 6’3” UMSL (Junior)

Drew Moore 6’3” Webster U. (Senior)

Jarvis Walker 6’4” Harris-Stowe (Junior)

Player of the Year: Sean Wallis (Washington University)

                               Eric Hobbie (McKendree)

Coach of the Year: Harry Statham (McKendree)

Women

First Team

Ashley Agee 5’6” McKendree (Junior)

Janice Evans 5’10” Washington University (Senior)

Jessica Moore 6’1” Missouri Baptist (Junior)

Jaimie McFarlin 5’11” Washington University (Gr. Student)

Zoe Unruh 6’0” Washington University (Senior)

Second Team

Kaitlin Bramel 5’3” Fontbonne (Sophomore)

Hailee Deckard 5’10” UMSL (Sophomore)

Alex Hoover 5’10” Washington University (Junior)

Katie Fullerton 5’6” McKendree (Junior)

Kristi White 5’9” UMSL (Senior)

Player of the Year: Zoe Unruh (Washington University)

Coach of the Year: Nancy Fahey (Washington University)

Zoe Unruh photo, courtsey of Vincent Novicki, WUSTL Photo Services

Sean Wallis photo, courtesy of Mary Butkus, WUSTL Photo Services