Story Links
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 17, 2025) – For the fifth time in six years, Northern Arizona men’s basketball was a recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award for their success in the classroom. All five of NAU’s all-time NABC team academic honors have come during head coach Shane Burcar‘s tenure.
The NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards recognizes programs that completed the 2024-25 academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. For the recently completed academic year, Lumberjack men’s basketball posted a 3.21 cumulative grade point average.
NAU was one of six Big Sky programs recognized with the Team Academic Excellence Award, which was established during the 2012-13 season.
Additionally, four Lumberjacks were recognized on the NABC Honors Court. Juniors, seniors and graduate students who finished the 2024-25 academic year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher are honored on the list.
Diego Campisano, a strategic communication major, earned the honor for the second consecutive year. Ryan Abelman (mechanical engineering), Oakland Fort (psychological sciences) and Jack Wistrcill (finance) each were named to the NABC Honors Court for the first time.
This marks the third time in program history that NAU had at least four honorees. It is the program’s highest Honors Court total since 2020 when the Lumberjacks had a record five individuals recognized.
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona men’s basketball by following the Lumberjacks on X and Instagram.