KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) this week announced the 2020-21 NABC Honors Court, recognizing men's collegiate basketball student-athletes in all NCAA Divisions and the NAIA, who excelled in academics during the past season. The NABC Honors Court highlights the talents and gifts that these men possess on the court and the hard work they exhibit in the classroom. Ripon College saw five players earn a spot on the NABC Honors Court, with senior
Connor Kuhn and juniors
Jack Brady,
Ryan Steffes,
Jaylen Mahone, and
Drew Jorgensen each receiving the distinction. Ripon's men's basketball team also earned the NABC's Team Academic Excellence Award, which requires a team cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better during the 2020-21 school year.
In order to be named to the Individual Honors Court, a student-athlete must academically be a junior or senior varsity player who has compiled a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year. Student-Athletes must also have matriculated at least one year at their current institution, while playing for an NCAA Division, I, II, III, or NAIA Division I institution with a NABC-member coach.
A three-time Academic All-Conference performer, Kuhn is making his second consecutive appearance on the NABC Honors Court. In Ripon's recently completed and COVID-shortened 2021 Spring season, the Mathematics major from Hilbert, Wis. averaged career-highs of 12 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 48 percent from the field.
In two games off the bench this Spring, Brady, a Business Management major from Brookfield, Wis., averaged a team-best 17.5 points per game. That included a career-high 21-point outburst in which he sank seven 3-pointers, which is tied for sixth in program history.
A two-time Academic All-Conference performer, Jorgensen is a Physical Education major from Fond du Lac, Wis. He averaged 13 points per game during Ripon's shortened-COVID season, while shooting 56 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range.
Mahone is a Sport Management major from Brandon, Wis. He averaged 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.5 steals per game during this past season.
Steffes is a two-time Academic All-Conference performer from St. Cloud, Wis. A Business Management major, he averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this season, while shooting 44 percent from the field and 67 percent from 3-point range.
