Freeland, Mich. -- Hope College's Harrison Blackledge has been named the recipient of the 2017 Albert L. Deal Male Scholar-Athlete Award.

"We are proud to name Harrison Blackledge the Albert L. Deal Scholar-Athlete Award winner for the 2016-17 academic year," said Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Commissioner Penny Allen-Cook. "Harrison's leadership over his four-year career in all aspects of the NCAA Division III experience helped him emerge from a field of strong MIAA nominations. Harrison exemplifies the qualities that have come to represent MIAA student-athletes."

The Albert L. Deal Male Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes a senior male student-athlete from a MIAA member college who has excelled in academics and athletics while displaying outstanding leadership qualities. The award is named in honor of Albert L. Deal, who served as MIAA commissioner from 1971 to 1991.

"I am just humbled to know I was considered with the MIAA's best student-athletes for athletics, academics and leadership qualities," said Blackledge. "That's an honor in itself. It's a cool parting honor for Erin (Herrmann) and me - that we were able to leave our mark that way and represent a school we love so much the way we did."

A four-year letter winner and three-year starter for the Hope men's basketball team, Blackledge was the 2017 MIAA Most Valuable Player after averaging 20.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in MIAA play. As a senior captain, Blackledge led the Flying Dutchmen to the 2017 MIAA regular season title and the 2017 NCAA Division III Sweet 16. Individually, Blackledge was the recipient of the prestigious 2017 Jostens Trophy as well as earning NABC and d3hoops.com First-Team All-America honors.

In the classroom, Blackledge posted a 3.96 grade-point average and earned Hope College Dean's List honors all eight semesters on the way to earning a degree in Communication & Business. A 2017 CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-American, Blackledge was also named to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

Blackledge also contributed in the community, aiding in after school programs, served as a campus bible study leader, and volunteered at both the local Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, and the Miracle League.

Blackledge will pursue an MBA in Marketing at Belmont University this fall.

Albert L. Deal Male Scholar-Athlete Award winners

--MIAA--