Six MAAC Student-Athletes Nominated to Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams
MAAC Sports
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Allstate Insurance Company today announced an all-time high 278 nominees for the 2017 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams®. This esteemed award honors an outstanding group of student-athletes who represent the sport’s finest in the areas of community service and leadership among their peers.
The Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® recognizes players at all levels of college basketball whose charitable involvement and altruistic acts stand out amongst all other student-athletes participating in the sport. From leading an initiative to help end the water crisis in Flint, Mich., to co-founding a non-profit with the mission to improve literacy rates across the country, the players nominated embody the true spirit of teamwork and giving back.
“The positive impact that student-athletes are making on college campuses and communities around the world can sometimes go unnoticed,” said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2017 WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® selection panels. “Allstate is a proud supporter of NCAA® college basketball and takes immense pride in working with the NABC and WBCA to recognize players who continue to make giving back a priority and inspire future generations of athletes.”
Athletic departments and sports information directors across the country nominated the 97 WBCA and 181 NABC student-athletes for the prestigious honor. Two special voting panels, headlined by former Duke University basketball athlete, two-time NCAA® champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, and former Notre Dame basketball star, two-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner and current WNBA player Skylar Diggins, will select 10-member teams from both the WBCA and NABC, 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.
“It is a joy each year to partner with Allstate in recognizing the many college women’s and men’s basketball players who are performing good works in their respective communities,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. “This year’s WBCA group of 97 nominees is no exception. They are truly the heroes of our sport and deserve our gratitude. Congratulations to them all.”
Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2017 WBCA Convention and at the 2017 NCAA Women’s Final Four® in Dallas, and will also participate in a volunteer project in the local community. Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2017 NABC Convention and 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four® in Phoenix, where they will participate in a community service project benefitting the city. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the WBCA, NABC and NCAA.
“The growth of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team program in five years has been remarkable with a record-setting number again for 2017,” said NABC Executive Director Jim Haney. “We are very grateful to Allstate for shining a bright light on these men and women in college basketball whose compassion and commitment continue to help so many.”
In addition to Clarkson, Hill and Diggins, the 2017 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Clark Kellogg (Ohio State University / CBS Sports), Len Elmore (University of Maryland / CBS Sports / ESPN) and Alana Beard (Duke University); media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated / CBS), Dana O’Neil (ESPN), LaChina Robinson (ESPN / FOX) and Brenda VanLengen (ESPN / FOX Sports); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (Georgia Tech / College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech University), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech University) and Nell Fortner (Auburn University); and current 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 recognizes the off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities.
More information about the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® and the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® is available at www.wbca.org and www.nabc.org.
The following student-athletes have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:
NCAA Division I
Abilene Christian University - Sydney Shelstead
Arizona State University - Sophie Brunner
Baylor University - Nina Davis
Belmont University - Sally McCabe
Bucknell University - Sune Swart
Central Michigan University - Jewel Cotton
Chicago State University - Kaylee Allen
Clemson University - Ivy Atkism
College of William & Mary - Alexandra Masaquel
Cornell University - Nicholle Aston
Drake University - Lizzy Wendell
East Carolina University - Gabrielle Holston
Eastern Illinois University - Jalisha Smith
Fairfield University - Kristine Miller
Florida State University - Ivey Slaughter
Gonzaga University - Emma Wolfram
High Point University - Kaylah Keys
Hofstra University - Sydni Epps
Indiana University - Amanda Cahill
Iowa State University - Seanna Johnson
Kansas State University - Kindred Wesemann
Lafayette College - Anna Ptasinski
Lehigh University - Quinci Mann
Marist College - Casey Davidson
Marshall University - Logan Fraley
Mississippi State University - Blair Schaefer
New Mexico State University - Brandee Walton
North Carolina State University - Jennifer Mathurin
Penn State University - Peyton Whitted
Quinnipiac University - Aryn McClure
Rice University - Gabrielle Stanton
Saint Joseph's University - Amanda Fioravanti
Siena College - Kollyns Scarbrough
St. John's University - Sandra Udobi
Syracuse University - Brittney Sykes
Texas A&M University - Alyssa Michalke
Texas Christian University - Jada Butts
Troy University - Caitlyn Ramirez
University of California - Irvine - Mckenzie Piper
University of Delaware - Hannah Jardine
University of Denver - Jesse Spittel
University of Detroit Mercy - Chea Taylor
University of Florida - Brooke Copeland
University of Georgia - Mackenzie Engram
University of Illinois - Kennedy Cattenhead
University of Iowa - Ally Disterhoft
University of Kansas - Kylee Kopatich
University of Louisville - Arica Carter
University of Maine - Sigi Koizar
University of Miami - Khaila Prather
University of Mississippi - Shandricka Sessom
University of Missouri - Lianna Doty
University of Missouri-Kansas City - Justice Collins
University of Northern Iowa – Angie Davison
University of Oklahoma - Maddie Manning
University of South Dakota - Abigail Fogg
University of Texas - Ariel Atkins
University of Toledo - Michaela Rasmussen
University of Virginia - Breyana Mason
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee - Christina Wakeman
Utah Valley University - Britta Hall
Vanderbilt University - Minta Spears
West Virginia University - Lanay Montgomery
Western Michigan University - Meredith Shipman
The following student-athletes have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®:
NCAA Division I
Air Force Academy - Zach Kocur
Auburn University - T.J. Dunans
Austin Peay State University - Zach Glotta
Ball State University - Trey Moses
Belmont University - Evan Bradds
Boise State University - Nick Duncan
Brigham Young University - Kyle Davis
California State University - Bakersfield - Brent Wrapp
Central Michigan University - Blake Hibbitts
Chicago State University - Trayvon Palmer
College of Charleston - Evan Bailey
College of the Holy Cross - Marcellis Perkins
College of William & Mary - Paul Rowley
Coppin State University - Keith Shivers
Creighton University - Cole Huff
Davidson College - Nathan Ekwu
DePaul University - Billy Garrett, Jr.
Duke University - Matt Jones
East Carolina University - Caleb White
East Tennessee State University - Albert (A.J.) Merriweather
Eastern Washington University - Felix Von Hofe
Elon University - Luke Eddy
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Tyrone O'Garro
Florida Gulf Coast University - Marc-Eddy Norelia
Florida State University - Dwayne Bacon, Jr.
Georgia Southern University - Shawn O'Connell
Georgia State University - Willie Clayton
Georgia Tech - Rand Rowland
Gonzaga University - Nigel Williams-Goss
Grand Canyon University - Joshua Braun
High Point University - Miles Bowman, Jr.
Hofstra University - Rokas Gustys
Idaho State University - Erik Nakken
Illinois State University - MiKyle McIntosh
Indiana State University - Brandon Murphy
Iowa State University - Monte Morris
Kansas State University - D.J. Johnson
La Salle University - Amar Stukes
Lehigh University - Devon Carter
Liberty University - John Dawson
Longwood University - Damarion Geter
Loyola Marymount University - Steven Haney Jr.
Marist College - Kentrall Brooks
Middle Tennessee State University - Edward Simpson
New Mexico State University - Tanveer Bhullar
North Dakota State University - Dexter Werner
Northwestern State University of Louisiana - Sabri Thompson
Northwestern University - Sanjay Lumpkin
Oakland University - Sherron Dorsey-Walker
Ohio State University - Keita Bates-Diop
Oklahoma State University - Phil Forte
Oregon State University - Stephen Thompson, Jr.
Penn State University - Payton Banks
Presbyterian College - Will Adams
Princeton University - Steven Cook
Purdue University - Isaac Haas
Quinnipiac University - Daniel Harris
Rice University - Chad Lott
Saint Mary's College - Calvin Hermanson
San Jose State University - Isaac Thornton
Seattle University - Emmanuel Chibuogwu
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Josh White
Southern Methodist University - Jonathan Wilfong
Stephen F. Austin State University - Dallas Cameron
Tennessee Tech - Mason Ramsey
Texas A&M University - Tavario Miller
Texas Christian University (TCU) - Brandon Parrish
Towson University - Eddie Keith II
U.S. Naval Academy - Grant Vermeer
University at Buffalo - Willie Conner
University of Alabama - Corban Collins
University of Alabama at Birmingham - Nick Norton
University of Arkansas - Moses Kingsley
University of Arkansas at Little Rock - Stetson Billings
University of California, Berkeley - Sam Singer
University of California, Davis - Darius Graham
University of Central Arkansas - Jordan Howard
University of Georgia - Yante Maten
University of Houston - Danrad Knowles
University of Incarnate Word - Jorden Kite
University of Iowa - Nicolas Baer
University of Kansas - Landen Lucas
University of Louisville - Mangok Mathiang
University of Massachusetts - C.J. Anderson
University of Miami - Davon Reed
University of Michigan - Zak Irvin
University of Missouri-Kansas City - Noah Knight
University of Montana - Brandon Gfeller
University of New Mexico - Tim Williams
University of North Carolina - Asheville - Kevin Vannatta
University of North Carolina - Greensboro - Jordy Kuiper
University of North Carolina - Wilmington - Chris Flemmings
University of North Dakota - Quinton Hooker
University of North Texas - Jeremy Combs
University of Pittsburgh - Cameron Johnson
University of Portland - Alec Wintering
University of South Carolina - Duane Notice
University of South Dakota - Austin Sparks
University of Tennessee - Kyle Alexander
University of Texas - Kendal Yancy
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Lew Stallworth
University of Tulsa - Eugene Artison
University of Wisconsin-Madison - Vitto Brown
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Cody Wichmann
Utah State University - Julion Pearre
Utah Valley University - Andrew Bastien
Vanderbilt University - Luke Kornet
Wake Forest University - Antonio Keyshawn Woods
West Virginia University - Jevon Carter
Western Illinois University - Garret Covington
Western Kentucky University – Justin Johnson
About the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.
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 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 diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for nearly half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit ncaa.org and ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola as official corporate champions and the following elite companies as official corporate partners: Allstate, Amazon Echo, Bing (Microsoft), Buffalo Wild Wings, Buick, Enterprise, Infiniti, LG, Lowe’s, Nabisco, Northwestern Mutual, Pizza Hut, Reese’s, Unilever and Wendy’s.
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. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, 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 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 230,000 hours of service across the country.