Men’s Basketball Earns NABC Honors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) recently announced the recipients of the 2024-25 NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards and NABC Honors Court, representing outstanding achievement in the classroom by men's college basketball teams and student-athletes.
For the fifth time in program history, the Mitchell College men's basketball team received the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award, while six Mariner student-athletes were also recognized. Seniors Robert Zirlis (Clinton, Conn.) and Noah James (New London, Conn.) earned the honor for the second time in their collegiate careers, while juniors Eddie Volkerts (New London, Conn.), Brandon Lee (Stockton, Cali.), Adam Gardner (North Charleston, S.C.), and Walker Baillargeon (Norwich, Conn.) were each first time recipients. Zirlis and James become the seventh and eighth players in program history to earn the distinction twice, joining Dontae Pollard, Tyler Peretz, Domenico Santiago, Matt Finke, Ahmani Browne, and Samuel Jackson.
"To be recognized by the NABC for the academic achievement of our team and for the individuals who epitomize what it means to be a student athlete is truly an honor," said Head Men's Basketball Coach, Todd Peretz. "Being able to balance the responsibilities within the classroom and on the court is a true testament to our players' work ethic and further supports the NCAA Division III philosophy."
The NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards recognize programs that completed the 2024-25 academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The NABC Honors Court, meanwhile, includes junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the 2024-25 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
The NABC's academic awards are presented annually to teams and athletes from all levels of college basketball.
"Education is one of the NABC's five core values, and we are proud to recognize the academic accomplishments of these programs and individual student-athletes across our sport," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "The dedication and hard work of these athletes, along with their coaches and support staff members who prioritize academic success, deserves to be widely celebrated."
Over 2,400 players earned spots on the NABC Honors Court and nearly 400 programs received NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards for 2024-25. A full list of Honors Court recipients is available by clicking here.
About the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)
Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. For additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, go to www.nabc.org.
