Three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference student-athletes: Sarah Olson, Monmouth Hawks Women's Basketball, James Ford Jr., Quinnipiac University Men's Basketball and Jimmie Taylor, Rider University Men's Basketball are three of the 257 total nominees for the 2016 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 2, 2015 – 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 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 theAllstate 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
Alcorn State University – Marquis Vance
Arkansas State University – Josh Pierre
Auburn University – Jordon Granger
Austin Peay State University – Khalil Davis
Belmont University – Jeff Laidig
Bethune-Cookman University – Ricky Johnson
Brigham Young University – Kyle Collinsworth
Butler University – Kellen Dunham
California State University, Bakersfield – Kevin Mays
Central Connecticut State University – Brandon Peel
Central Michigan University – Chris Fowler
College of Charleston – Canyon Barry
Creighton University – Geoffrey Groselle
Davidson College – Nathan Ekwu
Drexel University – Rodney Williams
Duke University – Marshall Plumlee
Eastern Washington University – Venky Jois
Florida Atlantic University – Jackson Trapp
Florida State University – Devon Bookert
Fordham University – Mandell Thomas
Fresno State University – Marvelle Harris
Georgia Southern University – Devonte Boykins
High Point University – John Brown
Idaho State University – Ben Wilson
Indiana State University – Matt Van Scyoc
Iowa State University – Nazareth Mitrou-Long
IUPUI – Marcellus Barksdale
La Salle University – Rohan Brown
Lehigh University – Devon Carter
Longwood University – Kanayo Obi-Rapu
Lyon College – Riley Jenkins
Mercer University – Jibri Bryan
Middle Tennessee State University – Reggie Upshaw
Missouri State University – Tyler McCullough
Morehead State University – Corban Collins
North Carolina A&T State University – Denzel Keyes
North Dakota State University – Chris Kading
Northeastern University – Zach Stahl
Northern Arizona University – Jordyn Martin
Northwestern State University – Jalan West
Oakland University – Max Hooper
Oklahoma State University – Phil Forte
Old Dominion University – Trey Freeman
Oral Roberts University – Obi Emegano
Oregon State University – Daniel Gomis
Pepperdine University – Stacy Davis
Presbyterian College – Will Adams
Purdue University – Rapheal Davis
Quinnipiac University, (Conn.) – James Ford, Jr.
Rice University – Max Guercy
Rider University – Jimmie Taylor III
Rutgers University – Greg Lewis
Santa Clara University – Nate Kratch
Southern Methodist University – Semi Ojeleye
South Carolina State University – Darryl Palmer
Stephen F. Austin State University – Thomas Walkup
Texas Christian University – Michael Williams
Texas Tech University – Toddrick Gotcher
University of Alabama – Retin Obasohan
University of Arizona – Kaleb Tarczewski
University of Arkansas at Little Rock – Mareik Isom
University of California Berkeley – Stephen Domingo
University of California, Davis – Josh Fox
University of California, Irvine – Mamadou Ndiaye
University of California, Los Angeles – Bryce Alford
University of Detroit Mercy – Anton Wilson
University of Florida – Dorian Finney-Smith
University of Georgia – Yante Maten
University of Iowa – Mike Gesell
University of Kansas – Hunter Mickelson
University of Kentucky – Marcus Lee
University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Kasey Shepherd
University of Louisville – Trey Lewis
University of Maryland – Varun Ram
University of Maryland Eastern Shore – Derrico Peck
University of Massachusetts – Tyler Bergantino
University of Memphis – Shaq Goodwin
University of Michigan – Spike Albrecht
University of Nebraska – Shavon Shields
University of Nebraska Omaha – Kyler Erickson
University of New Mexico – Cullen Neal
University of North Carolina – Joel James
University of North Carolina at Greensboro – Jordy Kuiper
University of North Carolina at Wilmington – Craig Ponder
University of North Florida – Beau Beech
University of Oklahoma – Buddy Hield
University of Pittsburgh – James Robinson
University of South Carolina – Mindaugas Kacinas
University of Southern California – Samer Dhillon
University of Tennessee – Armani Moore
University of Texas at Arlington – Drew Charles
University of Texas – Demarcus Holland
University of Tulsa – Shaquille Harrison
University of Vermont – Trae Bell-Haynes
University of Virginia – Anthony Gill
University of Wisconsin – Nigel Hayes
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Justin Jordan
Utah State University – David Collette
Valparaiso University – Alec Peters
Vanderbilt University – Luke Kornet
Villanova University – Ryan Arcidiacono
Washington State University – Junior Longrus
West Virginia University – Devin Williams
Western Illinois University – Garret Covington
Western Kentucky University – Nigel Snipes
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
Boston College – Alexa Coulombe
Brown University – Ellise Sharpe
California State University, Bakersfield – Alyssa Shannon
Coastal Carolina University – Olivia Carlton
Colgate University – Randyll Butler
College of the Holy Cross – Raquel Scott
DePaul University – Chanise Jenkins
East Carolina University – DeVaughn Gray
Florida State University – Brittany Brown
Fordham University – Danielle Padovano
George Mason University – Taylor Brown
George Washington University – Alexis Chandler
Georgetown University – Ki-Ke Rafiu
Georgia Institute of Technology – Katarina Vuckovic
Hofstra University – Sydni Epps
Indiana State University – Rhagen Smith
Iowa State University – Nicole Blaskowsky
Kansas State University – Kelly Thomson
Lehigh University – Elizabeth Sharlow
Liberty University – Ashley Rininger
Marshall University – McKenzie Akers
Mississippi State University – Chinwe Okorie
Missouri State University – Kenzie Williams
Monmouth University –Sarah Olson
North Carolina State University – Ashley Eli
Northwestern University – Maggie Lyon
Oakland University – Elena Popkey
The Ohio State University – Cait Craft
Old Dominion University – Jennie Simms
Presbyterian College – Janie Miles
Purdue University – Hayden Hamby
Rice University – Alyssa Lang
Seattle University – Wilma Afunugo
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville – Gwen Adams
St. John's University – Sandra Udobi
Stephen F. Austin State University – LaNesha Middleton
Stony Brook University – Brittany Snow
Texas A&M University – Jordan Jones
Texas Christian University – Zahna Medley
Troy University – Ashley Beverly Kelley
U.S. Military Academy – Aimee Oertner
University of Alabama – Nikki Hegstetter
University of Arkansas – Melissa Wolff
University of California, Los Angeles – Kacy Swain
University of Georgia– Merritt Hempe
University of Houston– Jessieka Palmer
University of Illinois– Sarah Hartwell
University of Iowa– Ally Disterhoft
University of Kansas– Lauren Aldridge
University of Louisville– Cortnee Walton
University of Maine– Elizabeth Wood
University of Maryland Eastern Shore– Chalyse Taylor
University of Maryland, Baltimore County– Emily Russo
University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Rachel Theriot
University of Nevada – Julia Shelbourn
University of New Mexico –Bryce Owens
University of North Carolina - Asheville – Paige Love
University of North Carolina at Greensboro – India Timpton
University of Northern Iowa – Stephanie Davison
University of Oregon– Jillian Alleyne
University of South Carolina– Khadijah Sessions
University of Tennessee –Andraya Carter
University of Tennessee at Martin – Katie Schubert
University of Toledo – Michaela Rasmussen
University of Utah – Danielle Rodriguez
University of Virginia – Faith Randolph
University of Wisconsin-Madison – Nicole Bauman
Valparaiso University – Georgi Donchetz
Vanderbilt University – Kendall Shaw
Wake Forest University – Keri Fulp
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.
