Official CSC Release

TACOMA, Wash. — Four student-athletes from the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball program were honored for excellence in the classroom on Tuesday, earning College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors. Ben Tellez and Henry Smith land the honor for the second consecutive season while Charlie Kapranos and Caleb Berry are first time honorees.

A senior kinesiology major from Concord, California, Ben Tellez secures Academic All-District for the second consecutive season. Tellez started all 25 games this winter, leading the team in scoring after averaging 18.0 points per game. Deadly from beyond the arc, Tellez drained 73 threes on the season, shooting at a 42.7 percent clip from distance.

A junior business major from Hillsboro, Oregon, Henry Smith lands Academic All-District for the second year in a row. Smith suited up in all 25 games this season, starting in 10. Smith averaged 11.0 points per game on the year with 19 steals and drained 54 threes on the year. 

A sophomore kinesiology major from Portland, Oregon, Charlie Kapranos is named CSC Academic All-District for the first time in his career. Kapranos started all 17 games he played, missing the final eight due to an injury. Kapranos was second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.8 points per game while hauling in a team-best 8.3 rebounds per game and dishing out a team-high 74 assists. 

A sophomore applied physics major from Houston, Texas, Caleb Berry earns the award for the first time. Berry played in all 25 games this winter and started all but two of those. Berry averaged 6.0 points per game and led the team at the charity stripe, shooting at a 85.4 percent clip.

A total of 26 players from around the Northwest Conference were recognized, representing seven of the nine conference schools. Pacific Lutheran was one of five NWC schools with four total honorees, joining George Fox University, Linfield University, Pacific University, University of Puget Sound, and Whitworth University.

To be eligible for the award, student-athletes needed to have a minimum of a 3.5 grade point average, be sophomore standing, and have competed in 90 percent of the institution's matches or have started in at least 66 percent of the institution's matches. 

The Lutes wrapped up the 2025-2026 campaign with an 11-14 overall record and a 5-11 mark in conference play.