Wright State vs. Southern University Men’s Basketball | Photo by Jessica Fugett | The Wright State Guardian
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) recognizes basketball programs that achieve academic excellence. The Wright State men’s basketball team earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award.
The award recognizes programs that have excelled in academics during the previous season. A program must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better during that season.
This is the third consecutive season under Head Coach, Scott Nagy, that WSU has earned this award.
“It comes down to who you recruit, our assistant coaches recruit guys that are serious about their education,” said Nagy.
This is becoming the standard for the basketball team. Showing student-athletes the importance of education is truly part of what being a coach entails.
“They’re not going to play basketball forever, and if we’re not stressing academics to them then we’re failing them,” according to Nagy.
Support from WSU
Coach Nagy has a tremendous staff around him, and putting academics first is very important to the entire staff.
Supporting student athletes in their academic pursuits is something that Nagy will always strive to do.
“Our support staff that works with our guys is amazing, and that all starts with Bob Grant at the top and all the way down,” said Nagy.
Nagy stresses the importance of academics to his players, and wants them to give all their effort in the classroom.
“We’re not about results, we’re more about guys just doing their best,” said Nagy.
NABC Honors Court
The NABC also recognizes student athletes that have achieved academic excellence in the previous season. Loudon Love and Andy Neff play for WSU and both were named to the NABC Honors Court.
“The NABC Honors Court celebrates the talents and gifts that these men possess off the court, and the hard work they exhibit in the classroom,” according to the NABC’s website.
To join the Honors Court, the student-athlete must be a junior or senior, a varsity player, earn a GPA of 3.2 or higher and be at the university for at least one year.
“We’re very proud of them and it’s not just about academics, it’s how they carry themselves off the court,” according to Nagy.
Achieving academic excellence is a crucial aspect of being on the WSU basketball team.
