A culture of excellence
Harvard’s men’s basketball program has been recognized once again for its academic performance, earning the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Team Academic Excellence Award for the twelfth consecutive season. The streak is the longest active run among Division I schools and underscores the program’s commitment to balancing competition with scholarship.
During the 2025‑26 academic year, six Crimson players were selected to the NABC Honors Court, a distinction that celebrates student‑athletes who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Their inclusion adds to the growing list of individuals who have excelled both on the hardwood and in the classroom.
Coach Tommy Amaker praised the students for embodying the standards the program sets. “Our players understand that success in the classroom is as important as success on the court,” he said, noting that the culture of academic rigor has become a defining characteristic of the team.
The NABC award is granted to teams that achieve a collective GPA of at least 3.0, a benchmark that the Crimson have consistently met since the award’s inception in the 2012‑13 season. In the most recent cycle, more than 2,300 players from roughly 400 institutions received similar honors, reflecting a broader trend of academic recognition across the sport.
The achievement highlights a broader narrative in college athletics where scholarly accomplishment is increasingly celebrated alongside athletic prowess, setting a precedent for future teams.