The University of Mississippi's men's basketball program has once again been celebrated for its academic prowess, capturing the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Team Academic Excellence Award for the third consecutive season.
Award Criteria and Recognition
The NABC honors programs that maintain a collective grade point average of at least 3.0 across the 2024‑25 academic year, a benchmark that the Rebels have consistently met.
Craig Robinson, executive director of the NABC, praised the student‑athletes for balancing rigorous competition with scholarship, noting that the award underscores the growing emphasis on education in college basketball.
Player Honors
In addition to the team accolade, nine Rebels earned spots on the NABC Honors Court, a distinction that recognizes individual academic achievement among more than 2,300 players nationwide for the 2025‑26 cycle.
Among the honorees are Zach Day, Malik Dia, Hobert Grayson IV, Koren Johnson, Eduardo Klafke, Travis Perry, James Scott, Max Smith, AJ Storr and Craig Robinson, each of whom has demonstrated commitment to both the classroom and the court.
The recognition extends beyond individual performance; over 400 programs received the Team Academic Excellence Award for 2025‑26, reflecting a broader culture of scholarly excellence across the sport.
Ole Miss's continued success in the classroom not only bolsters its recruiting narrative but also sets a standard for programs seeking to blend athletic competitiveness with academic integrity.