Official NABC Release

TACOMA, Wash. — The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) recognized outstanding work in the classroom on Thursday with the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball squad and five student-athletes earning awards from the organization. The Lutes earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award while Brandin Riedel, Drew Kraft, Emmett Holt, Liam Johnston, and Miles Nash secured NABC Honors Court accolades. 
 
Nearly 400 colleges from all three NCAA divisions and the NAIA were recognized with the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award, including seven of the nine Northwest Conference institutions. Joining the Lutes was conference rivals Lewis & Clark College, Pacific University, University of Puget Sound, Willamette University, Whitman College, and Whitworth University.

To be eligible for the team award, programs had to maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or higher. 
 
Riedel, Kraft, Holt, Johnston, and Nash are among the 44 student-athletes from around the NWC to be recognized with Riedel, Kraft, and Johnston securing the accolade for second straight season. All told, over 2,400 players from men's college basketball were honored. To be honored, student-athletes must be an academic junior or above with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) or better, have matriculated at least one year at their current institution, and be an NCAA Division I, II, III, or NAIA institution with an NABC member coach.

The Lutes wrapped up the 2024-2025 campaign with a 14-12 overall record, posting an 11-5 mark in Northwest Conference action, securing second place in the league standings and advancing to the NWC Tournament Semifinals.