Norwich Men's Basketball Earns NABC Academic Excellence Award
Norwich University’s men’s basketball team has been celebrated for its dual commitment to competition and scholarship, capturing the 2025‑26 National Association of Basketball Coaches Team Academic Excellence Award.
The NABC’s academic accolades are reserved for programs that maintain a collective GPA of at least 3.0, a benchmark that the Norwich squad met while navigating a demanding season.
Individual recognition arrived for five Cadets who were named to the NABC Honors Court, a list that celebrates student‑athletes who sustain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
Among those honorees, seniors Charles Nogard and Joe Joe DuBrul, together with juniors Niklas Nordberg, Quinn Twombly and Riley Severy, exemplify the blend of athletic contribution and classroom excellence that the award seeks to highlight.
DuBrul’s academic record reached a perfect 4.00 GPA, earning him the title of Norwich’s Male Scholar‑Athlete of the Year, a testament to his consistent performance both on the hardwood and in the lecture hall.
Michel Ndayishimiye, a senior who contributed on the court as a member of the GNAC All‑Conference Third Team, also featured among the academically distinguished players.
Beyond individual honors, the team’s competitive résumé includes a third consecutive appearance in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament, underscoring the program’s sustained relevance in Division I basketball.
NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson has repeatedly emphasized that “academic achievement is a cornerstone of the student‑athlete experience,” a sentiment that resonates with Norwich’s approach to developing well‑rounded leaders.
The recognition arrives amid a broader landscape where more than 400 programs and roughly 2,300 student‑athletes across the nation have been celebrated for similar academic standards, reflecting a growing emphasis on scholarly excellence within college sports.