McLean County Times

Illinois Wesleyan University sophomore guard Josh Fridman has been named to the D3hoops.com Preseason All-American fifth team, according to an announcement released on October 30. The list includes four student-athletes from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).

Fridman, who was last season’s D3hoops Rookie of the Year, joins North Park's Kolden Vanlandingham and Wheaton's Soren Richardson on the fifth team. Carthage's Ryan Johnson earned first-team honors for the CCIW. Fridman is now the sixth player from Illinois Wesleyan to receive this preseason recognition since D3hoops began its annual announcement in 2010. He is also the first underclassman from Illinois Wesleyan to appear on a preseason All-American team.

Last season, Fridman was recognized as both CCIW Newcomer of the Year and D3hoops Region 8 Rookie of the Year. During his freshman year with Illinois Wesleyan, he started as point guard and averaged 9.2 points per game. He recorded 76 assists with only 41 turnovers, shot 40.4 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three-point range, and led his team with an 88 percent free throw rate. His top performance came during a CCIW Tournament semifinal win over Augustana when he scored a career-high 24 points, including six three-pointers.

Fridman and his teammates are set to begin their new season on November 14 against Illinois College at the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational.