SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls men's basketball program has once again been recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, earning both team and individual honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) for the 2025-26 academic year.
The Cougars received the 2025-26 NABC Team Academic Excellence Award after finishing the academic year with a cumulative team grade point average of 3.0 or higher. In addition, five USF student-athletes were named to the NABC Honors Court, recognizing their outstanding academic achievement while competing at the NCAA Division II level.
The annual awards highlight programs and student-athletes who have demonstrated that success extends well beyond the basketball court. More than 400 collegiate programs across all levels of men's basketball earned Team Academic Excellence Awards this year, while more than 2,300 student-athletes were recognized on the NABC Honors Court.
Five Cougars Earn Individual Recognition
Representing the University of Sioux Falls on the 2025-26 NABC Honors Court were:
To earn NABC Honors Court recognition, student-athletes must be a junior, senior or graduate student academically and finish the academic year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
The five Cougar honorees represent a variety of academic disciplines while serving as key contributors to the men's basketball program, exemplifying the balance between athletic competition and academic success that defines the student-athlete experience at the University of Sioux Falls.
Team Commitment to Excellence
The Team Academic Excellence Award reflects the collective efforts of the entire program, recognizing teams that achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 during the academic year. The honor underscores the culture established within the USF men's basketball program, where excellence is expected in both the classroom and on the court.
The recognition also continues a tradition of academic success for Cougar men's basketball, highlighting the dedication of the student-athletes, coaching staff and university faculty in helping players succeed throughout their collegiate careers.
About the NABC Academic Awards
The NABC Academic Awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding academic achievement by men's college basketball programs and student-athletes from every level of collegiate basketball.
According to the NABC, the awards reflect one of the organization's core values by celebrating the academic accomplishments of student-athletes alongside their athletic achievements.
"College basketball student-athletes do incredible things on the court, but their achievements in the classroom are equally worthy of celebration," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "Education is one of the NABC's core values, and the hundreds of programs and thousands of athletes represented on these awards reinforce the commitment to academic success that exists across all levels of our sport."
The University of Sioux Falls was among more than 400 programs nationwide to earn the Team Academic Excellence Award, while Mattes, Bosch, Ingwerson, Woosnam and Ashley were five of more than 2,300 student-athletes recognized on the 2025-26 NABC Honors Court.
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