Two Titans Named NABC All-District & D3hoops All-Region

Fridman voted D3hoops Region 8 Rookie of the Year

3/18/2025 1:00:00 PM

D3hoops.com Release

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Seniors Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) and Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) represented the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball teams on the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 8 Team and D3hoops.com All-Region squads announced Tuesday, March 18. Freshman Josh Fridman (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North) was voted D3hoops.com's Region 8 Rookie of the Year.

Roper garners NABC All-District status for the second straight year, while Williams reels in the distinction for the first time in his career. D3hoops tabbed Roper a First Team All-Region pick, while Williams was a third team honoree.

A unanimous First Team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, Roper led the Titans with 15.3 points per game. He added 5.6 rebounds per contest alongside 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from beyond the arc. He was named the CCIW Player of the Week Feb. 3, and led the team in scoring in 15 of 30 games. The St. Louis, Mo. native posted two double-doubles and eight 20-point games. A Preseason D3hoops.com All-American honoree, Roper scored a career-high 29 points in a triple overtime win over North Central, Jan. 11.

Williams put together a sensational senior season en route to earning the first all-district honor of his career. The Round Lake, Ill. native put up 10.4 points per game with 4.5 rebounds, a team-leading 3.3 assists, and a team-best 1.7 steals a game. He shot 44.1 percent from the field and 75.2 percent at the free throw line. A First Team All-CCIW pick and one of the elite defenders in Division III, Williams posted career-highs in nearly every statistical category. He was named the CCIW's Player of the Week once and was recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational. Williams notched two 20-point games, highlighted by a career-high 21 points against LeTourneau, Dec. 29.

In his rookie season, Fridman worked his way into the lineup as the team's starting point guard. The CCIW Newcomer of the Year, Fridman averaged 9.2 points per game and dished out 76 assists against just 41 turnovers. He shot 40.4 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three-point range. Fridman led the team with a free throw percentage of 88.0. He scored a career-high 24 points in IWU's CCIW Tournament semifinal win over Augustana, Feb. 28, aided by a career-high six three-pointers.

The trio were key pieces of an IWU squad that won the CCIW Tournament Championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. The Titans finished the year with a 24-6 record and were ranked in the top-25 consistently throughout the season.

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