Salem, Va. – Nebraska Wesleyan senior men's basketball player Cooper Cook has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the prestigious Jostens Trophy when the finalists were announced today by members of the Rotary Club of Salem, Va.  The club is responsible for the initial review on nominations and narrowed the pool to 10 men's and 10 women's finalists.
 
The Jostens trophy is awarded to an outstanding NCAA Division III men's and women's basketball player who excels on the floor, in the classroom and in the community. 
 
Cook, a senior forward from Overland Park, Kan., is a 3-time 1^st-Team All-Conference performer for the No. 1 ranked Prairie Wolves basketball team.  As a senior, Cook averages 14.8 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 per contest.  He has a team-high 49 blocked shots and leads the team with 71 made 3-pointers.
 
Last season, Cook was named the CoSIDA Male Academic All-American of the Year and the men's basketball Academic All-American of the Year.  He is a two-time Academic All-American and was awarded the Elite 90 Award at the 2018 NCAA III Championships.
 
He was the 2018 Final Four MVP leading NWU to the NCAA III National Championship.  Cook now ranks 4^th all-time in Nebraska Wesleyan history with 1,761 career points.  His 294 made 3-pointers rank 2^nd all-time and he holds the school record for career blocked shots.
 
Cook becomes the third Nebraska Wesleyan basketball player to make the list of finalists.  Trey Bardsley won the Jostens Trophy in 2016 and Trevor Johnson was a finalist in 2014.
 
The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men's and women's NCAA Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded NCAA Division III student-athlete. This year's class marks the 22nd year the award has been presented.

Men's Finalists
Ben Boots, UW-Oshkosh
Austin Coene, Roger Williams
Cooper Cook, Nebraska Wesleyan
Robert Duax, UW-Platteville
Nolan Ebel, Augustana
Marcos Echevarria, Nichols
Cam Fails, Hanover
Aston Francis, Wheaton
Sam Gabbard, UC-Santa Cruz