KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Senior DJ Hamilton was named Monday to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Central District First Team.  This is the first time Hamilton has received the honor and joins five fellow Northern Sun student-athletes on the first and second teams.
 
DJ Hamilton was recognized as one of the best men's collegiate basketball student-athletes after being selected to the NABC All-Central District First Team by member coaches of the NABC.  His performance in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament helped him reach the honor.  Hamilton is one of 89 student-athletes now eligible for the NABC Coaches' Division II All-America teams who will also be selected by the NABC.
 
In the first game of the NCAA DII Regional Tournament, Hamilton scored 12 points while hitting 8-of-8 free throws.  The Avondale, Ariz., native helped MSUM revenge a loss in a rematch of the NSIC Championship game against Southwest Minnesota State.  The first round matchup of the No. 4 seed Mustangs and No. 5 seed Dragons ended 82-66 in favor of the Dragons.  Hamilton's performance set the stage for a matchup against the No. 1 nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines in the second round.
 
Hamilton showed his true colors in the tough game against the No. 1 seed Orediggers.  The senior shot 9-of-19 from the field to score 21 points.  He also grabbed three steals and earned two assists.  His game-high point total was not enough for the Dragons to take down the regional host Orediggers.  Colorado Mines used 40 points in each half to move on, 80-60.
 
The NABC All-Central District First Team is the second first team honors Hamilton has received this season.  He previously earned a spot on the All-NSIC First Team and the All-Central Region Second Team. 
 
Hamilton led the Dragons in scoring, 14.9 points per game, while totaling 461 on the season.  He also totaled an impressive 114 assists, the first triple digit total in the category for the Dragons since the 2005-06 season. 
 
The Dragons men's team finished the season with a record of 21-10 and 15-8 in NSIC play.  MSUM will lack Hamilton's abilities next season as he will graduate with a major in Physical Education.