Basketball

Columbia Lions Men’s Basketball Earns NABC Academic Excellence Award

Four players also receive NABC Honors Court recognition as program celebrates academic achievements

The University of Missouri–Kansas City’s men’s basketball program has been awarded the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2025‑26 academic year, recognizing its collective grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

The honor, which reflects a program’s dedication to scholarly achievement, was granted to more than 400 collegiate teams across the country, highlighting a nationwide push to integrate academic excellence with athletic competition.

Player Honors

Four members of the Lions roster — Blair Thompson, Kenny Noland, Nicolo Romanelli and Zine Eddine Bedri — were named to the NABC Honors Court after maintaining cumulative GPAs of 3.2 or above, placing them among over 2,300 student‑athletes recognized league‑wide.

The NABC Honors Court celebrates those who excel both on the court and in the classroom, reinforcing the association’s commitment to fostering integrity, education and holistic development in men’s basketball.

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