Arcadia University Men’s Basketball captain Colin McCarthy ’12 has been named to the 2011-12 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team.

McCarthy, who was Arcadia’s leading scorer this year and the conference’s best free-throw shooter, is one of five area student-athletes selected out of nine nominations across NCAA Divisions I, II and III. The athletes are nominated and the team is voted upon by the sports information offices of the 28 institutions from the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

“This is wonderful recognition for Colin, for Arcadia, and for Division III sports,” says Arcadia University President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III. “The heart of Division III lies in giving our students the possibility of achieving excellence in mind and body and finding how to find balance in lives that are filled with multiple demands and conflicting alternatives.

Colin has natural talent, and he works incredibly hard. He can do it all, and is a wonderful team player. He leads by example, is a joy to teach, is humble and admired by all. He embodies the Division III spirit, and is the definition of the true scholar-athlete.”

Raised in Langhorne, Pa., McCarthy attended Holy Ghost Preparatory School. At Arcadia he maintains a 3.357 GPA and is in the Honors Program, majoring in Elementary Education and Special Education. McCarthy is the first Arcadia University Men’s Basketball player in the history of the program to receive this honor.

“This is a tremendous award and accomplishment for both Colin and our program,” notes Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Justin Scott. “Colin has been a leader both on and off the court since he first stepped on campus two years ago. He has a tremendous work ethic toward basketball, but even more important is his work ethic in the classroom. He has been an excellent role model for our younger players and manages to always do the right things.

“Colin has been our team captain the past two seasons and is a huge reason why our program is headed on an upward swing,” says Scott, who also serves as the Academic Coordinator for the Athletics Department. “We are extremely excited that he has decided to pursue his master’s degree and return for his final year of eligibility as a graduate student in the Education program. I truly admire Colin and enjoy coaching him!”

The senior forward played an instrumental role this past season, the Knight’s best since the 2007-08 campaign. This year’s squad finished 9-16 overall and surprised the MAC’s Commonwealth Conference which, by season’s end, had recognized the team’s point guard Travis Saltus ’15 as the league’s Rookie of the Year.

McCarthy led both the team and the Commonwealth in free-throw shooting (80.7%), ending the season ranked 136th in the nation among his Division III counterparts. McCarthy aced 100% of his free throw attempts in 10 outings this season, highlighted by a 10-for-10 showing at home against Rutgers-Camden on Dec. 5.

He finished this season as the squad’s second leading scorer and produced 9 double-figure games, highlighted by his season-best 18 point outing in the Knight’s 75-67 win at home against Commonwealth rival Elizabethtown on Nov. 30. That performance earned him his first Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) – Commonwealth Player of the Week honor. He was also named to the 20th Annual McCarthy Tire Laurel Line All Tournament Team on Nov. 20, for guiding the Knights to a third-place finish. In his two seasons with the program, McCarthy has racked up 490 points.

McCarthy’s break-out season began during the summer of 2011, when he was invited to participate in the USA Athletes International – Vienna Cup. While playing in Europe, McCarthy further polished his skills playing with several distinguished collegiate student-athletes from throughout the country. During the trip, McCarthy and his USA team made stops in Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy, where they participated in a total of six games, posting a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. The majority of the games were part of the Vienna Cup Tournament, which included both professional and amateur teams.

A junior-year transfer, McCarthy has twice been named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll (2011, 2012) for maintaining a 3.20 cumulative grade-point-average, has earned Dean’s Distinguished List Honors (Spring 2011) and will be honored at the University’s Honors Convocation on Saturday, April 28, as the Arcadia University Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

He remains active in Kappa Delta Pi and the Arcadia Special Athletes Association (ASAA). McCarthy is currently completing his student-teaching at nearby Cheltenham Elementary School and will receive his undergraduate degree from Arcadia this May. He will return to the Knights for his final year of eligibility during the 2012-13 hardwood season as a graduate student in Arcadia’s Master’s of Education program.

“I cannot think of a more deserving player than Colin for this award,” boasts his head coach Pat Dorney. “Colin is the epitome of a student-athlete. He will be an outstanding teacher and role model in the near future.”

McCarthy is joined on the Academic All-Area team by junior T.J. DiLeo of Temple, senior Ian Goldberg of Haverford, junior Khiry Hankins of Holy Family and Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men’s Basketball Performer of the Year, junior Jon Ward of Ursinus.