A Season of Accolades
Rutgers University announced that its men’s basketball team has been awarded the 2025‑26 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award, a distinction given to programs that maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 across the entire roster.
The honor places the Scarlet Knights among more than 400 collegiate programs nationwide that met the academic benchmark, underscoring the university’s commitment to balancing athletic competition with scholarly achievement.
Senior guard Tariq Francis, a health administration major, was also recognized on the NABC Honors Court, an accolade reserved for junior, senior and graduate student‑athletes who post a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
Francis, who transferred to Rutgers after a standout stint at Penn, credited the school’s supportive coaching staff and the campus environment for fostering both his athletic development and his academic growth.
Looking Ahead
Beyond the classroom, he highlighted the networking opportunities the university provides, exposing him to the business side of basketball and helping him build connections that will serve him after his playing days.
He plans to pursue a career that blends his interests in healthcare and real estate, a path he believes will allow him to make a meaningful impact off the court.
One of Francis’s most cherished moments at Rutgers came when he sank a game‑winning shot against Penn, a memory he says encapsulates the excitement and camaraderie of his collegiate experience.