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<\/p>\nThe National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced the 2024-25 NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards and Honors Court recipients on Thursday, recognizing outstanding academic achievements by men\u2019s college basketball teams and players. St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball was among nearly 400 programs to receive the Team Academic Excellence Award, posting a 3.2144 team GPA for the 2024-25 academic year. Four players from St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball\u2014Jake Koverman, AB Oladipo, JD Salo, and Kendahl Toft\u2014earned spots on the NABC Honors Court, as reported by the NABC.<\/p>\n
Team Academic Excellence Award<\/p>\n
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The NABC Team Academic Excellence Award honors programs that achieve a team GPA of 3.0 or higher for the academic year. St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball secured this recognition with a 3.2144 team GPA, reflecting the program\u2019s commitment to academic success alongside athletic performance. This achievement places St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball among elite programs, including Kansas, Michigan State, and DePaul, which also earned the award for 2024-25 [https:\/\/www.nabc.com]. The NABC emphasized education as a core value, with Executive Director Craig Robinson noting, \u201cThe dedication and hard work of these athletes, along with their coaches and support staff members who prioritize academic success, deserves to be widely celebrated\u201d.<\/p>\n
Honors Court Achievements<\/p>\n
The NABC Honors Court recognizes junior, senior, and graduate student players with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball players Jake Koverman \u201926 (sociology, 3.496 GPA), AB Oladipo \u201925 (biochemistry, 3.377 GPA), JD Salo \u201926 (environmental studies\/biology minor, 3.405 GPA), and Kendahl Toft \u201925 (computer science, 3.552 GPA) were honored. Oladipo and Toft earned their second consecutive Honors Court selection and are members of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society. All four players also secured spots on the United East Conference Winter\/Spring All-Academic Team, highlighting their consistent academic excellence.<\/p>\n
On-Court Performance<\/p>\n
St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball finished the 2024-25 season with a 14-12 overall record and a 10-6 mark in the United East Conference (UEC), earning the No. 5 seed in the UEC Championship Tournament. This marked the program\u2019s third winning season in four years, showcasing a balance of athletic and academic success. The Seahawks\u2019 performance aligns with their academic achievements, as noted in posts on X celebrating NABC award recipients.<\/p>\n
Individual Player Highlights<\/p>\n
Jake Koverman, a junior from Severna Park, Maryland, contributed to St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball while maintaining a 3.496 GPA. AB Oladipo, a senior from Killeen, Texas, balanced biochemistry studies with a 3.377 GPA. JD Salo, a junior from Dunkirk, Maryland, excelled in environmental studies with a 3.405 GPA, and Kendahl Toft, a senior from Vista, California, achieved a 3.552 GPA in computer science. Their academic rigor complements their on-court contributions, reinforcing the program\u2019s holistic approach.<\/p>\n
Broader Context and Recognition<\/p>\n
The NABC recognized over 2,400 players on the Honors Court and nearly 400 teams for academic excellence in 2024-25, underscoring the widespread commitment to education in college basketball. St. Mary\u2019s College Men\u2019s Basketball joins other Maryland programs, such as those in the United East Conference, in prioritizing academic success. The team\u2019s achievements reflect the NABC\u2019s mission to celebrate student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the court.<\/p>\n
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