*Article contains excerpts from official Josten's Trophy release*

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Capping off a stellar collegiate career for the Guilford College men's basketball team, Tyler Dearman (Greensboro, N.C.) was named the winner of the 2024 Josten's Trophy for his standout contributions both on and off the court on Monday, in addition to netting D3hoops.com All-America Second Team honors over the weekend.

"Not only a tremendous basketball player, but a standout student, leader, and individual, I believe you will find, as we have discovered over the past five years at Guilford College, Tyler perfectly embodies this (The Josten's Trophy) honor," described Guilford Director of Athletics Bill Foti in a letter of support for Dearman's nomination awardy. "Tyler is a kind and thoughtful man. He never refrains from showing gratitude and appreciation for the opportunities he's been afforded."

The Josten's Trophy takes into consideration not only a players on-court exploits, of which Dearman enjoys plenty, but also their academic, leadership, and community service experiences.

As stated in the award's official release, "The Jostens Trophy is designed to recognize the most outstanding men's and women's Division III basketball players of the year. The awards focus on three major criteria: basketball ability, academic prowess, and service to one's surrounding communities. The Jostens Trophy models the Rotary International motto of 'Service Above Self' by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of a well-rounded Division III student-athlete."

In the classroom, Dearman maintained a 3.41 undergraduate grade point average as a sports management major with a minor in communications. He owns a 3.81 GPA in Guilford's Master's of International Sport Management program. He is a multi-year honoree on the ODAC All-Academic Team.

Dearman has enjoyed several community service and leadership endeavors as well as professional experience. Dearman volunteered his time on numerous occasions at local area schools to read to elementary school students. He has also worked with high school basketball players as a team camp worker. Dearman has had several internships and professional opportunities in the local sports industry including the ACC, Greensboro Grasshoppers (minor league baseball), and with Guilford sports information. He has also worked with the Metropolitan United Methodist Church and is a member of Guilford's Black Student Union.

On the the hardwood, he earned his third consecutive All-ODAC selection, and second-straight on the first team, in addition to the Kurt Axe Memorial Player of the Year and ODAC Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Statistically, he has been a standout both individually and as a part of a Quakers squad that allowed the fewest points per game in Division III at 56.3. He led the ODAC, and finished eighth nationally in steals with 75, opening the season with 11 thefts against Methodist, the most by any NCAA men's basketball player regardless of division this season, while setting an ODAC single-game record. He finished averaging 20.0 points, 44^th-best in Division-III men's hoops, and 5.3 rebounds per game while dishing out 93 assists. He accumulated a trio of 30-plus point games, peaking with a career-best 36 in an 87-70 victory in GC's NCAA Tournament opener against Berry College. Dearman closes his career having scored 1,723 points at a 15.2 per-game average. He also pulled down 617 boards, dished out 219 assists, and registered 222 steals, the latter marking a Guilford program record. Dearman's teams went 86-27 (.761 winning percentage), including 48-11 (.814 winning percentage) over the last two seasons when he became a full-time starter. He played in all 113 games with 75 starts, becoming GC's first Josten's Trophy honoree in the 26-year history of the award.

Coupled with his NABC First Team All-America honor, Dearman is the program's first consensus All-American since Matt McCarthy '15 in 2015, albeit McCarthy was a NABC Second Teamer and a D3hoops.com Third Team selection. It is well earned as he finishes the season littered throughout the national ranks.

He finished the season ninth in total scoring with 620 points. He finished third in field goal attempts with 516, 20^th in field goal makes with 205, 11^th in three-point attempts with 234, 39^th in three-point makes with 75, 45^th in free throw attempts with 163, and 20^th in makes with 137. His 84.0% free throw percentage was also 73^rd in the nation and his 93 assists rank 161^st.

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