February 25, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—For the second straight year, Hobart College’s Joe Corbett (Haverford School/Philadelphia, Pa.) has been named one of the 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy, presented to the Division III Basketball Player of the Year. This season, the senior forward led Hobart in scoring (20.1 ppg), rebounding (14.4 rpg), and field goal percentage (.541), while breaking the Hobart career records for points, rebounds, field goals made, and field goal percentage.

Currently second in the nation in rebounding, Corbett posted 69 career double-doubles, including a string of 17 straight to close out his career. He connected on 655-of-1,193 field goal attempts (.549) and finished with 1,701 points and 1,249 rebounds. The only Statesman to grab 1,000 rebounds, he was named the UCAA Forward of the Week five times this season

Corbett recorded a career-high 34 points against Hilbert College on Jan. 14, on 15-of-18 shooting from the floor. Second on the team in assists, he dished out four or more helpers eight times, including a career-high matching seven against Clarkson on Jan. 18, and again on Feb. 8, against Skidmore.

A finalist last season as well, Corbett was well rewarded for an outstanding campaign. After pacing Hobart with 18.5 ppg and 12.2 rpg, he was named NABC first-team All-East, D3Hoops.com first-team All-East, first-team All-ECAC Upstate, and first-team All-UCAA. Corbett also boasts the 2001 ECAC Upstate Player of the Year, the 2001 UCAA Player of the Year, and the 2000 UCAA Rookie of the Year awards.

Corbett helped Hobart to a 53-50 record in his four seasons, making the Class of 2003 the first group of Statesmen to graduate with a winning record since 1991. Corbett and the Statesmen hit a high-water mark in 2001, tying the school record for consecutive wins, winning the UCAA Championship, and earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth.

In addition to his accomplishments on the court, Corbett has been equally impressive in the classroom and the community. An international relations major, he is a member of Hobart’s
Chimera Society and Druid Society, the junior class and senior class honor societies, respectively. A volunteer for several community projects, he is an active member of Celebrate Service, Celebrate Geneva Day, the Dream to Read Program, and the Hobart-YMCA youth basketball clinic. Corbett is a student director of the Statesmen Athletic Association and an organizer and fundraiser for Hobart’s “Your Buck Goes Here” program, which benefits Camp Onseyawa, a summer camp for children with special needs.

The winner of the Jostens Trophy is chosen by a national selection committee that consists of college coaches, former athletes, college administrators, and selected members of the media. The members of the national selection committee cast their votes based on three criteria: basketball ability, academic ability, and community service.

The winner will be announced on March 20, in Salem, Va., in conjunction with the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship. The other finalists are Kevin Bartow of Maryville (Mo.), Willie Chandler of Misericordia, Patrick Glover of Johnson State, Jesse Harris of Simpson, Robert Hennigan of Emerson, Ryan Hepp of Willamette, Joel Kolmodin of Wheaton (Ill.), Derek Reich of Chicago, and Steve Zieja of Amherst.