Courtesy Amherst Sports Information

AMHERST, Mass. – Amherst seniors Andrew Olson (San Diego, Calif.) and Fletcher Walters (Ann Arbor, Mich.) were both honored on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)Northeast Region First-Team on Thursday. Olson was also named the Northeast’s Player of the Year along with being selected as a member of the State Farm All-America First-Team.

Walters, Olson and the rest of the Lord Jeffs are currently in Salem, Va. and in final preparations for the 2008 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship. This weekend marks the fourth time in five years that Amherst has reached the national semifinals, and the third consecutive season that Walters and Olson have visited the Salem Civic Center.

For Walters, a three-time recipient of the NESCAC Player of the Week award, regional recognition is new this season as the 6’8” swingman is experiencing career highs and team-leading marks in both scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). Walters has led the Jeffs in scoring on nine occasions, in rebounding on 16 occasions, and recorded a team-high eight double-doubles.

Olson was named the Sectional MVP for the third straight year earlier this week after grabbing his second straight NESCAC Player of the Year award. Olson was also a finalist for the Josten’s Trophy and is a two-time finalist for the Bob Cousy Award. As the NABC Regional Player of the Year, Olson will be a strong candidate for the National Player of the Year award, which he shared with Guilford’s Ben Strong in 2007.

When reflecting on what this weekend means for him, Olson explains that the experience is “somewhat bitter-sweet.” The four-year starter continues to add that, “making the Final Four is what you want to do, but you also know that your season is going to come to end this weekend one way or another.”

Walters echoes the sentiments from Olson, adding that he thinks “we have a great shot to go all the way and win it all again this weekend, but even then, I will know that my time at Amherst will be over.”

Olson also adds that he and Walters “have been lucky to gain such accolades recently, but that none of this would be possible without the help of our teammates and especially our classmates. Matt Goldsmith, Brandon Jones and Kevin Hopkins have been here every step of the way, as roommates, friends and teammates.”

Walters and Olson were both selected as part of the 2007-08 All-NESCAC First Team on March 5.

The Lord Jeffs will tip-off against Ursinus College Friday at 5:00 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s National Championship game at 4:00 p.m., live on CSTV. Wash. U-St. Louis and Hope College will play in the other semifinal on Friday at 7:00 p.m.