The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has revealed its latest Team Academic Award list, spotlighting two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) programs that have met the organization’s rigorous scholarly standards. Both the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and UW-Stout posted collective grade point averages of 3.0 or higher for the 2025-26 season, earning them a place among the nation’s most academically successful basketball squads.
Team Academic Excellence
The award, which recognizes teams that sustain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, underscores the conference’s growing emphasis on balancing athletic competition with classroom achievement. Conference officials praised the student-athletes and coaching staff for their dedication to academic excellence, noting that the recognition reflects a broader cultural shift within collegiate sports.
In addition to the team accolades, the NABC also announced its Honors Court, a roll call of 23 individual athletes from across the WIAC who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher through the 2025-26 academic year. The honorees span graduate students, seniors and juniors, illustrating the conference’s depth of scholarly talent.
Honors Court Recognition
Among the celebrated names are Will Boser, Carter Lichtsinn, Andre Renta, Kenji Scales, Joah Bodden, Miles Hettinger, Lucas Rameker, Jack Leifker, Micah Thompson, Dominic Croci, Cade LaFavor, Carson Leuzinger, Justin Nelson, Nolan Stauffacher, Mason Stoik, AJ Uttech, Collin Vick, Austin Ambrose, Luke Bara, Joey Berezowitz, Jake Quast, Mauryon Turner and Isaac Verges. Their academic performance highlights the conference’s commitment to developing well-rounded leaders.
The acknowledgment extends beyond the two award-winning institutions, as other WIAC members such as UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater also saw student-athletes named to the Honors Court. This collective achievement paints a picture of a conference where academic ambition is as competitive as athletic prowess.
Conference leaders say the recognition reflects the hard work of coaches, academic advisors and the students themselves. As college basketball continues to evolve, the NABC’s academic awards serve as a reminder that success on the court can be complemented by excellence in the classroom.