From University of Rochester Athletics
University of Rochester guard Sam Borst-Smith received a great many honors this season and while he was enjoying the fruits of one, he received another.
Borst-Smith played in the 2017 Reese's College All-Star Game at the Final Four in Salem, VA. The game is sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. It was played on Saturday, hours before the NCAA Division III National Championship Game.
Before the title game, Borst-Smith was named a D3hoops.com Second Team All-American. He is the first Rochester men's player to earn All-America honors from D3hoops.com since 2012-13 when John DiBartolomeo was honored.
D3hoops.com is the largest source of information on Division III sports. It's All-America selection committee selects four teams of five players each plus a five-person group accorded Honorable Mention status.
Selections are made based on players chosen as All-Region honorees at the end of the regular season.
Borst-Smith received a wide-ranging list of honors since the end of the regular season, including Player of the Year in the University Athletic Association, First Team All-UAA, East Region Player of the Year and First Team All-East by D3hoops.com, First Team All-ECAC North, plus Third Team All-America and First Team All-East by the NABC.
He led Rochester in scoring (16.3 ppg.) shooting 49.8% from the field (158-317), 41.4% from the three point line (65-157), and 76.5% from the foul line (91-119). He collected 5.5 rebounds a game. Borst-Smith was second in assists (99), third in blocked shots (16), and first in steals (76).
His total of 76 steals is a single-season record, surpassing the mark of 63 established by Terry Fitzgerald in 1982-83.
In his career, he is ranked in the top 10 of nine categories: first in steals (212), sixth in free throws made (343), seventh in points scored (1,497), eighth in three-point field goals attempted (428), eighth in free throws attempted (431), 10th in field goals made (496), 10th in field goals attempted (1,055), 10th in three-point field goals made (162), and 10th in defensive rebounds (401).
Rochester finished the 2016-17 season with a final record of 24-5. The Yellowjackets were 21-4 in the regular season, 10-4 in the UAA. Rochester finished second to Washington University. The teams split the season series with the visiting team winning each game. Rochester was a Pool C (at-large) invitee to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The Yellowjackets were ranked #1 in the East Region and designated to host a first-and-second round pod of four teams. In the first round, the Yellowjackets defeated Albertus Magnus College of New Haven, CT, 89-66. Borst-Smith had 24 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. In the second round, Rochester defeated Union, 82-60. Borst-Smith had 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocked shots.
Rochester advanced to the Sectionals on March 10-11 in what may have been the toughest grouping on paper. It featured the top-ranked team in each of four regions: East (13th-ranked Rochester), Great Lakes (#7 Marietta), South (Hardin-Simmons, among others receiving votes), and West (#1 Whitman).
UR defeated Marietta, 85-80, in the Sectional semifinals. Borst-Smith had 17 points, four rebounds, five assists, and one steal. In the Sectional final against Whitman, the Yellowjackets lost, 91-87. Borst-Smith finished with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
He was a finalist for the Josten's Trophy, given for a combination of athletic excellent, academic achievement, and community service. He was also on the Watch List for the Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award, presented to the Small College Basketball Player of the Year. He was one of six Division III players on the Watch List. The award covers NCAA Divisions II, III, and the NAIA institutions.