Grinnell’s John Grotberg will step up to the line with seven Division I opponents during tonight’s State Farm College 3-Point Championships, which will be broadcast by ESPN.

Grotberg, whose 526 career three-point baskets tops all three NCAA divisions, led the nation this year with 6.2 three-pointers per game – boosting his 2007-08 Division III-leading average of 5.8 per game while improving his shooting percentage from last year’s 33.6 percent to 37.5 percent, despite the increased distance of 20 feet, 9 inches.

“It’s definitely an honor to be selected with all these great Division I players,” said Grotberg, who will be competing in Auburn Hills, Michigan, near his hometown of Ann Arbor. The competition will air at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

Also competing will be Northwestern’s Craig Moore, Notre Dame’s Kyle McAlarney, Rhode Island’s Jimmy Baron, Oakland’s Erik Kangas, Creighton’s Booker Woodfox, West Virginia’s Alex Ruoff, and Jack McClinton of Miami (Florida).

“I’ve been preparing all spring break for this, mainly on timing and technique of putting up a bunch of balls from different spots on the floor,” said Grotberg, whose team employs a fast style of play that emphasizes taking many three-point shots.

“I’m used to shooting a high volume of shots quickly,” he said. “I’ve learned how to shoot when I’m tired. Actually, I think we have three or four guys on our Grinnell team who could do pretty well in this contest.”

In fact, Grotberg’s teammate, Bobby Long, ranked second in Division III this year with 4.9 three-pointers per game. The senior pair ranked first and fourth, respectively, in scoring, with Grotberg averaging 31 points per game and Long averaging 27.2 points. Another senior teammate, David Arseneault, led Division III in assists per game (10.2), while for good measure, Grotberg ranked sixth in steals with six per game.

Grotberg said his experience earlier this year playing a game in the 16,000-seat Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, will help calm any nerves he may feel tonight during the competition at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

“I’ll have a lot of family and friends there on Thursday, so that will help, too.”