CHICAGO -- University of Chicago senior forward Nate Hainje (Brownsburg, Ind./ Brownsburg) has been selected as the 2008 University Athletic Association Player of the Year as the conference today announced its All-Association Men's Basketball Team.

The only player in the UAA to rank among the league's top 10 in scoring (4th, 16.0), rebounding (4th, 7.5), and assists (9th, 3.4), Hainje led the Maroons (18-7 overall, 11-3 UAA) to the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

During the second half of the UAA round robin schedule, Hainje averaged 23.9 points and 9.9 boards with five double-doubles as the Maroons won six of their last seven contests.

A repeat All-UAA First Team honoree, Hainje becomes the third Chicago player to garner UAA Player of the Year honors. He joins four-time selection Derek Reich (2000-03) and Andy Strommen (1999).

Junior guard Matt Corning (Wauconda, Ill./ Mundelein) joined Hainje on the All-UAA First Team. The third-leading scorer in the Association, Corning averaged 17.8 points per game while tallying double figures in 23 of 25 affairs. Corning also ranked second in the conference in field goal percentage (.554) and ninth in free throw percentage (.770).

Sophomore point guard Jake Pancratz (Schaumburg, Ill./ Schaumburg) garnered Second Team recognition. Pancratz, who averaged 11.9 points per game, finished second in the league in assists (4.5) and fifth in three-point field goals (2.4). His 112 assists stand as the fifth-highest season total in school history.

Senior forward Tim Reynolds (North Canton, Ohio/ Hoover) was cited as an honorable mention selection. The fourth-leading shot blocker in the conference (1.3), Reynolds averaged 6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

Head Coach Mike McGrath and Assistant Coaches Jarred Samples and Jim Prunty were chosen by their peers as the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year. The award is the third for McGrath during his nine-year tenure.

Chicago faces the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Friday, Mar. 7 in the opening round of the NCAA Division III tournament at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. The Maroons make their fourth trip to the national tournament under McGrath and second in as many years.

All-UAA Team