UW-Platteville's Jeff Skemp is the NCAA III West Region Player of the Year, according to D3hoops.com.

The 6-10 senior center led the Pioneers to a 23-6 record and the team's first NCAA Division III playoff berth since 1999. Fifth-ranked UW-Platteville beat Hope 83-59 and lost 74-69 at third-ranked Wheaton, despite Skemp's 38 points on 17-21 shooting.

"Jeff had a MVP performance all season," Pioneer Coach Paul Combs said. "He was the main focal point of opponents defenses and continued to deliver all year. He developed into a complete player on both ends and was a big reason for our success this season. Jeff is also an outstanding person off the floor where he was a team captain and is an excellent ambassador for the University. "

Skemp previously earned the co-MVP of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was one of 10 finalists for the national Jostens Trophy.

In 2008-09, the Hazel Green native and Southwestern High School graduate averaged 18.9 points per game while making 63.2 percent of his shots. He finished his standout career with 1,466 points, good for fifth all-time in the Pioneer record books.

The D3hoops.com team was voted upon by sports information directors around the region. Fifteen players from 15 different schools earned spots on the first, second or third teams.

D3hoops.com West Region Team of the Year
Player of the Year: Jeff Skemp, C, UW-Platteville
Coach of the Year: Steve Fritz, St. Thomas
Rookie of the Year: Aaron Van Klaveren, F, Cal Lutheran

First team
Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown 
C Jeff Skemp UW-Platteville Sr. Hazel Green, Wis. 
G Myles McKay UW-Whitewater Sr. Menomonee Falls, Wis. 
G Andre Wagner Buena Vista Sr. Omaha, Neb. 
F D.J. Marsh UW-Oshkosh Jr. Bayside, Wis. 
F Zach Johnson Carleton Sr. Apple Valley, Minn. 

Second team
Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown 
G Tim Madson Bethel Sr. Redwood Falls, Minn. 
G Joe Scott St. Thomas Jr. St. Anthony, Minn. 
F Jason Foster Puget Sound Sr. Spanaway, Wash. 
F Chris Blees Claremont-Mudd-Scripps So. Carmichael, Calif. 
C Cameron Mitchell Willamette Jr. Portland, Ore. 

Third team
Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown 
G Chris Faidley Whitman Sr. Shoreline, Wash. 
G Ross Nakamura Whitworth Sr. Moraga, Calif. 
F John Fraase Concordia-Moorhead So. Bismarck, N.D. 
F Dane Seckar-Anderson UW-Oshkosh Sr. Oshkosh, Wis. 
F Nate Alm Augsburg Sr. Eden Prairie, Minn.