McDaniel College Men’s Basketball and Four Players Receive 2025-26 NABC Team Academic Excellence Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The McDaniel College men’s basketball team earned national recognition by receiving the 2025-26 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award on Wednesday. This honor highlights the squad’s commitment to academic success alongside athletic performance. seniors Kevin Connelly, David Kearney, and Matt Kearney as well as junior Bruce Black were named to the NABC Honors Court.

Details of the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award

The NABC Team Academic Excellence Award is presented annually to collegiate basketball teams from all divisions that attain a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 during the academic year. This award underscores the dedication of both players and coaching staff to balance competitive basketball with academic achievement. For the 2025-26 season, McDaniel College’s men’s basketball team met and surpassed this criterion, joining an elite group of programs nationwide recognized for scholastic excellence. The award was announced during the NABC’s yearly meeting in Kansas City, celebrating programs from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA levels.

Four McDaniel College Players Earn Individual Academic Honors

In addition to the team’s collective recognition, four individual members of the Green Terror men’s basketball roster were honored for their academic accomplishments. These players maintained impressive GPAs throughout the season while contributing to McDaniel’s on-court efforts. Each played a significant role both as athletes and as students, embodying the student-athlete ideal embraced by McDaniel’s athletics philosophy.

McDaniel College Men’s Basketball Program Context

McDaniel College, located in Westminster, Maryland, competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the Centennial Conference. The men’s basketball team, under head coach Izzy Borden, continues to build a culture emphasizing success in all facets of the student-athlete experience. The program prides itself on developing leaders in both academics and athletics, targeting championship-level performance on the court while fostering academic excellence in the classroom.

In the 2025-26 season, the Green Terror demonstrated competitive tenacity in Centennial Conference play, further underscoring the balance between rigorous athletics and scholastic achievement.

What This Means for McDaniel College Athletes and the Program

The National Association of Basketball Coaches’ recognition serves as an important endorsement of McDaniel College’s commitment to academic achievement within its men’s basketball program. This award highlights the culture cultivated by the coaching staff and players, reinforcing the value the school places on education. As prospective student-athletes consider their options, honors like the Team Academic Excellence Award elevate McDaniel as a premier destination for those seeking strong academics and competitive basketball.

Maryland Sports Blog Take

McDaniel College’s men’s basketball team receiving the 2025-26 NABC Team Academic Excellence Award and having four individual players recognized is a testament to the holistic development fostered within Maryland’s Division III athletics. The Green Terror exemplify how rigorous academics and athletics are not mutually exclusive but can coexist to produce well-rounded scholars and athletes. This achievement not only brings pride to McDaniel College but also sets a standard for other Maryland programs striving for academic and athletic balance.

With continued focus on this dual commitment, McDaniel’s men’s basketball program will remain a model for success on campuses statewide and nationally. As the Green Terror prepare for future seasons, maintaining this level of academic excellence amid competitive play will enhance the school’s reputation and appeal to recruits valuing comprehensive student-athlete development.

For further reading on Maryland college basketball academic honors, explore these Maryland Sports Blog articles: UMBC Basketball Players Earn 2024 Academic Honors, Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Continue Academic Success, and Maryland Collegiate Athletes Recognized for Academic Excellence.

To learn more about the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award, visit the official NABC website: https://nabc.com/awards/academic-excellence. For additional information on McDaniel College men’s basketball, visit McDaniel Men’s Basketball Official Site. More on NCAA Division III basketball standards can be found at the NCAA site: NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball.