Fourth annual award honors college basketball student-athletes who are making a positive impact in their communities
This release contains: 2 Photos, 1 Related Document
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company today announced an all-time high 257 total nominees for the 2016 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams®. This distinguished award shines a spotlight on a select group of student-athletes who have shown dedication to service in their communities.
In its fourth year, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® recognize players at all levels of college basketball who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. From establishing nonprofits that provide youth with the necessary tools to become leaders of tomorrow, to raising awareness around pertinent issues that could save lives, these student-athletes exhibit leadership skills both on and off the court.
"The 2016 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® nominees are truly inspirational and their stories of service are a great example of the impact young people can make by dedicating their time and energy to do good," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2016 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panels. "For the fourth year, Allstate is honored to join the NABC and WBCA to recognize these student-athletes for their leadership off the court to help make a difference."
The 154 NABC nominees and the 103 WBCA nominees were submitted by sports information directors and college basketball coaches across the country. From the nominations, special voting panels, headlined by former Duke University basketball athlete, two-time NCAA® champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, and former University of Tennessee basketball athlete, NCAA champion and WNBA legend Tamika Catchings, will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA Division I level and five student-athletes from Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.
"The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is a nationally recognized award that continues to honor an impressive group of student-athletes who strive to better our society through service efforts. The WBCA family of coaches celebrates all the women's and men's basketball student-athletes who demonstrate a respect for the power of sports coupled with the responsibility to give back to others," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "The WBCA is proud to partner with Allstate and commends the recognition of these remarkable student-athletes for their significant humanitarian contributions."
Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2016 NABC Convention and 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four® in Houston, where they will participate in a community service project benefitting the city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2016 WBCA Convention and at the 2016 NCAA Women's Final Four® in Indianapolis, and will also participate in a local volunteer project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.
"Once again as we have a record number of nominees for the Allstate Good Works Teams, it's very evident that our men's and women's student-athletes in college basketball are unselfish and unwavering in their commitment to service," said Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC. "From global initiatives in third-world countries to feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless around their own communities, these young men and women are very deserving of the recognition that Allstate provides with this exemplary program."
In addition to Clarkson, Hill and Catchings, the 2016 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Team® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Clark Kellogg (Ohio State University / CBS Sports), and Alana Beard (Duke University); media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (Georgia Institute of Tech/College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech University), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech University) and Nell Fortner (Auburn University); and current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State University).
Since 2008, Allstate has partnered with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as a 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.
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 student-athletes have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2016 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®:
NCAA Division I
Air Force Academy – Zach Moer
Santa Clara University – Nate Kratch
Alcorn State University – Marquis Vance
Southern Methodist University – Semi Ojeleye
Arkansas State University – Josh Pierre
South Carolina State University – Darryl Palmer
Auburn University – Jordon Granger
Stephen F. Austin State University – Thomas Walkup
Austin Peay State University – Khalil Davis
Texas Christian University – Michael Williams
Belmont University – Jeff Laidig
Texas Tech University – Toddrick Gotcher
Bethune-Cookman University – Ricky Johnson
University of Alabama – Retin Obasohan
Brigham Young University – Kyle Collinsworth
University of Arizona – Kaleb Tarczewski
Butler University – Kellen Dunham
University of Arkansas at Little Rock – Mareik Isom
California State University, Bakersfield – Kevin Mays
University of California Berkeley – Stephen Domingo
Central Connecticut State University – Brandon Peel
University of California, Davis – Josh Fox
Central Michigan University – Chris Fowler
University of California, Irvine – Mamadou Ndiaye
College of Charleston – Canyon Barry
University of California, Los Angeles – Bryce Alford
Creighton University – Geoffrey Groselle
University of Detroit Mercy – Anton Wilson
Davidson College – Nathan Ekwu
University of Florida – Dorian Finney-Smith
Drexel University – Rodney Williams
University of Georgia – Yante Maten
Duke University – Marshall Plumlee
University of Iowa – Mike Gesell
Eastern Washington University – Venky Jois
University of Kansas – Hunter Mickelson
Florida Atlantic University – Jackson Trapp
University of Kentucky – Marcus Lee
Florida State University – Devon Bookert
University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Kasey Shepherd
Fordham University – Mandell Thomas
University of Louisville – Trey Lewis
Fresno State University – Marvelle Harris
University of Maryland – Varun Ram
Georgia Southern University – Devonte Boykins
University of Maryland Eastern Shore – Derrico Peck
High Point University – John Brown
University of Massachusetts – Tyler Bergantino
Idaho State University – Ben Wilson
University of Memphis – Shaq Goodwin
Indiana State University – Matt Van Scyoc
University of Michigan – Spike Albrecht
Iowa State University – Nazareth Mitrou-Long
University of Nebraska – Shavon Shields
IUPUI – Marcellus Barksdale
University of Nebraska Omaha – Kyler Erickson
La Salle University – Rohan Brown
University of New Mexico – Cullen Neal
Lehigh University – Devon Carter
University of North Carolina – Joel James
Longwood University – Kanayo Obi-Rapu
University of North Carolina at Greensboro – Jordy Kuiper
Lyon College – Riley Jenkins
University of North Carolina at Wilmington – Craig Ponder
Mercer University – Jibri Bryan
University of North Florida – Beau Beech
Middle Tennessee State University – Reggie Upshaw
University of Oklahoma – Buddy Hield
Missouri State University – Tyler McCullough
University of Pittsburgh – James Robinson
Morehead State University – Corban Collins
University of South Carolina – Mindaugas Kacinas
North Carolina A&T State University – Denzel Keyes
University of Southern California – Samer Dhillon
North Dakota State University – Chris Kading
University of Tennessee – Armani Moore
Northeastern University – Zach Stahl
University of Texas at Arlington – Drew Charles
Northern Arizona University – Jordyn Martin
University of Texas – Demarcus Holland
Northwestern State University – Jalan West
University of Tulsa – Shaquille Harrison
Oakland University – Max Hooper
University of Vermont – Trae Bell-Haynes
Oklahoma State University – Phil Forte
University of Virginia – Anthony Gill
Old Dominion University – Trey Freeman
University of Wisconsin – Nigel Hayes
Oral Roberts University – Obi Emegano
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Justin Jordan
Oregon State University – Daniel Gomis
Utah State University – David Collette
Pepperdine University – Stacy Davis
Valparaiso University – Alec Peters
Presbyterian College – Will Adams
Vanderbilt University – Luke Kornet
Purdue University – Rapheal Davis
Villanova University – Ryan Arcidiacono
Quinnipiac University (Conn.) – James Ford, Jr.
Washington State University – Junior Longrus
Rice University – Max Guercy
West Virginia University – Devin Williams
Rider University – Jimmie Taylor III
Western Illinois University – Garret Covington
Rutgers University – Greg Lewis
Western Kentucky University – Nigel Snipes
NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA
Alma College – DJ Beckman
LeTourneau University – CJ Edwards
Azusa Pacific University – LyDell Cardwell
Lewis & Clark College – Jason Luhnow
Bard College – Harry Johnson
Louisiana State University - Alexandria – Austin Adams
Barton College – Nick Ellison
Maine Maritime Academy – Zachary Radcliffe
Benedictine University – Michael Blaszczyk
Millsaps College – Rajan Hanstad
Bluefield State College – Avery Holliday
Merrimack College – Tyler Hunt
California Baptist University – Jordan Giusti
Messiah College – Joshua Clippinger
California State University, East Bay – Alex Manu
Pittsburg State University – Josiah Gustafson
Carson-Newman University – Sawyer Williams
Ripon College – Jordan Stiede
Central College – Jordan Saddoris
Roanoke College – Cameron Smith
Colorado College – James Lonergan
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – Tyler Duffy
Columbia College (Mo.) – Zach Rockers
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota – Mark Schumacher
Delta State University – Jack Madgen
Slippery Rock University – Jordan Grady
Dominican University of California – Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten
SUNY Plattsburgh – Kyle Richardson
Eureka College – Michael Sain
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology – Philip Schanilec
Fitchburg State University – Kwame Lee
Tarleton State University – Jakob Damstra
Florida Institute of Technology – Isaac Spence
Thomas More College – Louis Walker III
Franklin & Marshall College – Lior Levy
University of the Ozarks – Josh Ferrell
Freed-Hardeman University – Isaiah Harrison
University of West Alabama – Matt Hancock
Fresno Pacific University – Roger Paul
University of West Florida – Justin Williams
Hope College – Ben Gardner
University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Peyton River
Hampden-Sydney College – Nick Chase
Wayne State University – Michael Lewis
Indiana University East – Vasha Davis
Westminster College (Pa.) – Jarret Vrabel
Lake Superior State University – Michael Smutny
Young Harris College – C.J. Wilson
The following student-athletes have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2016 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:
NCAA Division I
Arizona State University – Arnecia Hawkins
Stephen F. Austin State University – LaNesha Middleton
Boston College – Alexa Coulombe
Stony Brook University – Brittany Snow
Brown University – Ellise Sharpe
Texas A&M University – Jordan Jones
California State University, Bakersfield – Alyssa Shannon
Texas Christian University – Zahna Medley
Coastal Carolina University – Olivia Carlton
Troy University – Ashley Beverly Kelley
Colgate University – Randyll Butler
U.S. Military Academy – Aimee Oertner
College of the Holy Cross – Raquel Scott
University of Alabama – Nikki Hegstetter
DePaul University – Chanise Jenkins
University of Arkansas – Melissa Wolff
East Carolina University – DeVaughn Gray
University of California, Los Angeles – Kacy Swain
Florida State University – Brittany Brown
University of Georgia – Merritt Hempe
Fordham University – Danielle Padovano
University of Houston – Jessieka Palmer
George Mason University – Taylor Brown
University of Illinois – Sarah Hartwell
George Washington University – Alexis Chandler
University of Iowa – Ally Disterhoft
Georgetown University – Ki-Ke Rafiu
University of Kansas – Lauren Aldridge
Georgia Institute of Technology – Katarina Vuckovic
University of Louisville – Cortnee Walton
Hofstra University – Sydni Epps
University of Maine – Elizabeth Wood
Indiana State University – Rhagen Smith
University of Maryland Eastern Shore – Chalyse Taylor
Iowa State University – Nicole Blaskowsky
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Emily Russo
Kansas State University – Kelly Thomson
University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Rachel Theriot
Lehigh University – Elizabeth Sharlow
University of Nevada – Julia Shelbourn
Liberty University – Ashley Rininger
University of New Mexico – Bryce Owens
Marshall University – McKenzie Akers
University of North Carolina - Asheville – Paige Love
Mississippi State University – Chinwe Okorie
University of North Carolina at Greensboro – India Timpton
Missouri State University – Kenzie Williams
University of Northern Iowa – Stephanie Davison
Monmouth University – Sarah Olson
University of Oregon – Jillian Alleyne
North Carolina State University – Ashley Eli
University of South Carolina – Khadijah Sessions
Northwestern University – Maggie Lyon
University of Tennessee – Andraya Carter
Oakland University – Elena Popkey
University of Tennessee at Martin – Katie Schubert
The Ohio State University – Cait Craft
University of Toledo – Michaela Rasmussen
Old Dominion University – Jennie Simms
University of Utah – Danielle Rodriguez
Presbyterian College – Janie Miles
University of Virginia – Faith Randolph
Purdue University – Hayden Hamby
University of Wisconsin-Madison – Nicole Bauman
Rice University – Alyssa Lang
Valparaiso University – Georgi Donchetz
Seattle University – Wilma Afunugo
Vanderbilt University – Kendall Shaw
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville – Gwen Adams
Wake Forest University – Keri Fulp
St. John's University – Sandra Udobi
NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA
Ashland University – Andi Daugherty
Palm Beach Atlantic University – Taylor Buchanan
Bethel University (Minn.) – Rachel Parupsky
Pittsburg State University – Kylie Gafford
Covenant College – Rachel Price
Queens University of Charlotte – Victoria Robinson
Dakota Wesleyan University – Chesney Nagel
Rockhurst University – Lauren Meyers
Dominican University of California – Jessy Marshall
St. Ambrose University – Deanna Busse
Drew University – Courtney Trzasko
SUNY Old Westbury – Raven Pentz
Eastern Mennonite University – Jess Rheinheimer
Tarleton State University – Raven McGrath
Felician University – Eliana Scanlon
University of Central Oklahoma – Jordan Ward
Gannon University – Brianna Brennan
University of Nebraska at Kearney – Laramey Becker
Grove City College – Kathryn Erbelding
Union College – Lydia Nash
Lewis University – Jamie Johnson
Union University – Kelsey Risner
Lindenwood University – Kassidy Gengenbacher
Wayne State University – Kristen Long
Loras College – Kaitlin Phillips
Westmont College – Karlie Storkson
Loyola University – Shayne Charles
Wheaton College (Mass.) – Rebecca Arnone
Nova Southeastern University – Alexis Murphy
Whitworth University – KC McConnell
Ohio Dominican University – Rachael Torey
Wingate University – Janna Johnson
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 www.wbca.org.
About the 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 the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 460,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.
About Allstate®
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In the 20 years since Allstate became a fully independent public company, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners have donated more than $405 million to support local communities.
NCAA, Final Four and Women's Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. All other licenses or trademarks are property of their respective holders.
# # #
Contact:
Rick Leddy, NABC
203-815-2437
ricknabc@gmail.com
Jack Watford, WBCA
770-279-8027 ext. 112
jwatford@wbca.org
Jessie Mann, Taylor
Relations 704-644-6928
jmann@taylorstrategy.com
Laura Strykowski, Allstate Media
847-402-5600
Laura.Strykowski@allstate.com