NABC Announces 2025‑26 Academic Excellence Awardees
The National Association of Basketball Coaches revealed this week the recipients of its 2025‑26 Team Academic Excellence Awards and NABC Honors Court, spotlighting men’s college basketball programs and student‑athletes who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the hardwood.
To qualify, a team must post a collective grade point average of at least 3.0, while individual players need a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. The recognition spans every division of NCAA competition and forms part of the association’s long‑standing effort to foreground academic achievement in a sport often dominated by headlines about wins and losses.
Florida Gulf Coast University emerged as one of only three ASUN Conference programs to earn the Team Academic Excellence Award, and five of its players secured places on the Honors Court. The university’s success underscores a culture that values scholarship alongside athletic ambition.
Among the honorees are George Washington III, Michael Duax, Rory Stewart, Brandon Dwyer and Isaiah Malone, each of whom balances rigorous academic pursuits with a commitment to competitive basketball.
Craig Robinson, executive director of the NABC, said the awards celebrate a generation of student‑athletes who are redefining what it means to lead on and off the court. “We are proud to honor these teams and individuals who demonstrate that excellence in the classroom is as vital as excellence in competition,” he remarked.
The 2025‑26 cycle recognized more than 2,300 players and 400 programs nationwide, a testament to the growing emphasis on academic metrics within college athletics. The full list of awardees can be found on the NABC’s official website.