2013-12-03

Second annual award recognizes college basketball student-athletes for their commitment to volunteerism
This release contains: 1 Photo, 1 Related Document

The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company today announced the 201 nominees for the 2014 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams®. The award recognizes a select group of college basketball student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the greater good of their communities through volunteerism and civic service.

In its second year, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® honor players at all levels of college basketball who represent the sport's finest in the areas of leadership and charitable achievements amongst their peers.  The student-athletes nominated for this prestigious award embody the true spirit of teamwork and giving back.

"Allstate is proud to recognize these two outstanding groups of men and women whose commitment to service and volunteerism demonstrate that 'good works' extend beyond the basketball court," said Pam Hollander, senior director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2014 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panels. "Each of the nominees serves as a role model and inspiration to future generations seeking ways to give back, and another reason to celebrate the good happening in our communities."

While jump shots and rebounds earn recognition on the hardwood, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® help tell the stories of good taking place off the court that often go unnoticed.  It is those players who demonstrate the exceptional ability to balance academics with athletics while donating their limited free time to serving others who have been nominated by their respective colleges and universities for this prestigious honor.

The 2014 nominees uphold impressive service resumes detailing unique and inspiring stories of servitude. From volunteering with sick and underprivileged children to lobbying state legislature for new laws that could help save lives, this exceptional group of young men and women demonstrate the positive impact student-athletes can have on and off the court.

From the 117 NABC nominees and 84 WBCA nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, special voting panels will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA.  Former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill will headline the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® voting panel, while WNBA basketball star Tamika Catchings, who played at the University of Tennessee, will serve on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® panel.  The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.

"The WBCA is honored to partner with Allstate in selecting the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® for the second year," said Beth Bass chief executive officer of the WBCA. "Each of the 84 young women who have been nominated by their respective head coaches for this prestigious honor have set examples that we all should follow. The selection committee will have a difficult time in selecting the 10-member team from this outstanding group of nominees."

Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA®, to the 2014 NABC Convention and 2014 NCAA® Men's Final Four® in Dallas, where they will participate in a community project in the city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2014 WBCA Convention and at the 2014 NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Nashville, and will also participate in a local community project.  Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.

"The partnership of the NABC and Allstate provides an outstanding opportunity to recognize 117 men's college basketball players who have been nominated for the 2014 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®," said NABC Executive Director Jim Haney. "The contributions they have made locally, nationally and globally are uplifting and demonstrate their great compassion, spirit and determination."

In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2014 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball players Greg Anthony (UNLV), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Alana Beard (Duke); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech) and Nell Fortner (Auburn); current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State); and media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX).

Since 2008, Allstate has partnered with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, which shines a spotlight on the positive, off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities. Through an arrangement with the AFCA, NABC and WBCA, Allstate is able to expand the Good Works Team® to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to make a difference off the court.

More information about the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® and the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is available at www.nabc.org and www.wbca.org.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2014 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®:

NCAA® Division I

Appalachian State University - Michael Obacha
Arizona State University - Dave Whitmore
Boston College - Ryan Anderson
Brigham Young University - Tyler Haws
Brown University - Rafael Maia
Butler University - Erik Fromm
Central Michigan University - Chris Fowler
Cleveland State University - Ludovic Ndaye
College of Charleston - Willis Hall
College of William and Mary - Tim Rusthoven
Creighton University - Ethan Wragge
Eastern Kentucky University - Deverin Muff
Florida State University - Okaro White
George Washington University - John Kopriva
Georgia State University - R.J. Hunter
Gonzaga University - Drew Barham
Hampton University - Deron Powers
Illinois State University - Nick Zeisloft
Indiana State University - Lucas Eitel
Iowa State University - Melvin Ejim
Kansas State University - Will Spradling
Mercer University - Langston Hall
New Mexico State University - Kevin Aronis
North Carolina State University - Tyler Lewis
Northwestern State University - Gary Stewart
Northwestern University - Drew Crawford
Oakland University - Travis Bader
Ohio State University - Aaron Craft
Ohio University - Nick Kellogg
Quinnipiac University - Ousmane Drame
Rice University - Austin Ramljak
Rider University - Emerson Bursis
Saint Joseph's University - Chris Wilson
Saint Louis University - Jake Barnett
Seattle University - Jarell Flora
Seton Hall University - Patrik Auda
Southern Methodist University - Shawn Williams
South Dakota State University - Marcus Heemstra
St. John's University (N.Y.) - God'sgift Achiuwa
Stephen F. Austin State University - Desmond Haymon
Tennessee State University - Patrick Miller
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Jake Kocher
The Citadel - Dylen Setzekorn
Towson University - Timajh Parker-Rivera
Troy University - Jeffrey Mullahey
U.S. Military Academy (Army) - Maxwell Lenox
University of Alabama at Birmingham - Jordan Swing
University of North Carolina-Wilmington - Tanner Milson
University at Albany - David Wiegmann
University of Arizona - Nick Johnson
University of Arkansas - Kikko Haydar
University Detroit Mercy - Evan Bruinsma
University of Florida - Patric Young
University of Houston - Mikhail McLean
University of Kansas - Perry Ellis
University of Kentucky - Jarrod Polson
University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Ishaq Pitt
University of Massachusetts - Trey Davis
University of Memphis - Joe Jackson
University of Michigan - Jordan Morgan
University of Notre Dame - Tom Knight
University of Pennsylvania - Dau Jok
University of Pittsburgh - James Robinson
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - D'Montre Edwards
University of Texas - Javan Felix
University of the Pacific - Trevin Harris
University of Tulsa - Nick Wood
University of Vermont - Luke Apfeld
University of Virginia - Joe Harris
Utah State University - Danny Berger
Wake Forest University - Aaron Rountree III
West Virginia University - Kevin Noreen
University of Wisconsin - Zach Bohannon
Youngstown State University - Mike Podolsky

NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA

Albion College - Zach Hurth
Anderson University (S.C.) - Chandler Hash
Bard College - Patrick Lichtenstein
Bethel University - Caleb Hardy
Bluefield State College - Avery Holliday
Central Washington University - Joey Roppo
Coker College - Eren Moses
Colorado College - James Lonergan
Columbia (Mo.) College - Tanner Sutton
Dominican University of California - Connor Haysbert
East Central University - Miles Mitchell
Eckerd College - Alex Bodney
Felician College - Anthony Obery
Franklin & Marshall College - Ed Early
Hamilton College - Peter Kazickas
Hope College - Grant Neil
Illinois Wesleyan University - Nick Anderson
Kalamazoo College - Grant Carey
Kenyon College - Dan Giguere
LaGrange College - Jalen Butler
Lake Superior State University - Cameron Metz
Loyola University New Orleans - Cameron Hill
Montana State University-Northern - Patrick Jensen
Mount Aloysius College - Aaron Patrick
Newberry College - Brunes Charles
Oklahoma Baptist University - Cale Jackson
Penn State Altoona - Michael Wigfield
Pittsburg State University - Jake Bullard
Saint Augustine's University - Joel Kindred
Saint John's University (Minn.) - Jack Wittenborg
Saint Xavier University - Brad Karp
South Dakota School of Mines - Lance Kilburn
Southwest Baptist University - Preston Guiot
Southwestern College - Tyler Shirley
St. Mary's College of Maryland - Nick LaGuerre
Union University (Tenn.) - Paul Valdor
University of Mary Washington - Taylor Johnson
University of Mobile - Cody Scott
University of North Alabama - Wes Long
University of Pikeville - Justice Elisha
University of the Ozarks - Andrew Cummings
University of West Alabama - Kyle Belcher
Westminster College - Paul Carswell

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2014 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:

NCAA® Division I

College of The Holy Cross - Alex Smith
East Carolina University - Ariana Jackson
Florida Gulf Coast University - Sarah Hansen
Florida State University - Natasha Howard
Fordham University - Abigail Corning
Furman University - Brigid Morrissey
Georgia Institute of Technology - Shayla Bivins
Harvard University - Kaitlyn Dinkins
Iowa State University - Hallie Christofferson
Kansas State University - Chantay Caron
Louisiana State University - Theresa Plaisance
McNeese State University - NeTanya Jones
Middle Tennessee State University - Janiece Johnson
Montana State University-Bozeman - Jackie Elliott
Norfolk State University - Jazamine Gray
North Carolina A&T State University - Tracy King
Northwestern University - Meghan McKeown
Purdue University - Courtney Moses
Rice University - Nakachi Maduka
Seattle University - Kacie Sowell
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale - Jordyn Courier
Stanford University - Chiney Ogwumike
Stephen F. Austin State University - Daylyn Harris
Texas A&M University - Karla Gilbert
University of Akron - Rachel Tecca
University of Alabama - Nikki Hegstetter
University of California-Berkeley - Avigiel Cohen
University of Delaware - Kelsey Buchanan
University of Denver - Theresa Wirth
University of Hartford - Alyssa Englert
University of Hawaii - Kamilah Jackson
University of Illinois - Sarah Hartwell
University of Iowa - Kathryn Reynolds
University of Kentucky - Kastine Evans
University of Louisville - Jude Schimmel
University of Maine - Elizabeth Wood
University of Massachusetts - Jasmine Harris
University of Miami - Maria Brown
University of Missouri-Kansas City - Eilise O'Connor
University of New Hampshire - Kelsey Hogan
University of New Mexico - Sara Halasz
University of North Dakota - Allyssa Wall
University of South Carolina - Elem Ibiam
University of Southern California - Cassie Harberts
University of Southern Mississippi - Niesha Pierce
University of Tennessee at Martin - Heather Butler
University of Virginia - Lexie Gerson
University of Wisconsin - Morgan Paige
West Virginia University - Jessica Harlee
Western Kentucky University - Chaney Means
Winthrop University - Taylor Calvert
Youngstown State University - Heidi Schlegel

NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA

Central Washington University - Jessica VanDyke
Davenport University - Alison Bouman
Dillard University - Amber Tramel
Gannon University - Jen Papich
Geneva College - Heidi Mann
Georgia College & State University - Shanteona Keys
Hillsdale College - Megan Fogt
Illinois Wesleyan University - Alexa Baltes
Loyola University - Jasmine Brewer
Marymount University - Katelyn Fischer
Metropolitan State University of Denver - Amy Nelson
Minnesota State University-Mankato - Alexandra Wilkinson
Montana State University-Northern - Taylor Cummings
Moravian College - Laura Jordan
Nova Southeastern University - Jessica Valley
Ohio Dominican University - Christina Pentaudi
Oklahoma Wesleyan University - Courtney Backward
Quincy University - Lucy Cramsey
Roosevelt University - Rebecca Williford
Saint Cloud State University - Carley Jeffery
St. Mary's University - Dezirae Elias
Trinity University (Texas) - Hannah Coley
Union College - Amy Loya
University of Alabama-Huntsville - Shannon Steinert
University of Mary Washington - Sam Partonen
University of St. Francis - Paige Stankus
Valley City State University - Brittany Lehner
Warner Pacific College - Jessica Thoens
Washington University in St. Louis - Lucy Montgomery
Westminster College (Mo.) - Leigh Ann Lutz
Wingate University - Jasmine DeBerry
Worcester State University - Michel'le St. Pierre

About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Forrest "Phog" Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.org.

About the Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.

About AFCA
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

 NCAA, Final Four and Women's Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

 

###

Contact:          

Rick Leddy, NABC                              
203-815-2437                                    
ricknabc@gmail.com                          

Jack Watford, WBCA
770-279-8027 ext. 112
jwatford@wbca.org

Jessie Snider, Taylor
704-644-6928                                                               
jsnider@taylorstrategy.com               

Laura Strykowski, Allstate Media Relations
847-402-5600
Laura.Strykowski@allstate.com

Show more