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2021-22 Academic All-America® Teams and Honorees
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Vander Plas, Riemersma, Leritz and Gross Highlight 2021-22 Academic All-America® Men's Basketball Teams
Men's Basketball Release (All NCAA and NAIA Divisions): PDF | doc
AUSTIN, Texas – Four standouts on the hardwood and in the classroom – Ohio University’s
Ben Vander Plas, Augustana (S.D.) University’s
Tyler Riemersma, Illinois Wesleyan University’s
Matthew Leritz and Olivet Nazarene University’s
Alex Gross – highlight the 2021-22 Academic All-America® men’s basketball teams selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Vander Plas (Division I), Riemersma (Division II), Leritz (Division III) and Gross (NAIA) have each been named the Academic All-America® of the Year award winner for their respective divisions.
NCAA Division I
Ben Vander Plas earned All-Mid-American Conference first-team honors this season, marking the fourth-straight year the MAC Freshman of the Year has earned all-conference honors. The native of Ripon, Wisconsin, finished the regular season second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game, good for second most in a single season during his career. The 2020-21 Academic All-America® first-team honoree and 2021 MAC Medal of Excellence award recipient holds a 3.96 grade-point average as a management graduate student. Through 33 games this year, Vander Plas is shooting 46.2 percent from the field (156-of-338) and 34.4 percent from three-point range (64-of-186).
Four of the 15 members of the Academic All-America® Division I men’s basketball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The five members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.95, with the entire men’s team holding a collective average GPA of 3.82.
Four other student-athletes join Vander Plas as a repeat selection on the Academic All-America® Division I men’s basketball team –
Jimmy Boeheim (Syracuse University),
Matt Dentlinger (South Dakota State University),
Hunter Schofield (Dixie State University) and
Luke Smith (Belmont University).
| FIRST TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Jimmy Boeheim (5) |
Syracuse University |
Gr. |
3.78/4.00 |
Education (G) |
| Tanner Groves |
University of Oklahoma |
Gr. |
3.89/4.00 |
Organizational Leadership (G) |
| Hunter Schofield (2) |
Dixie State University |
Sr. |
3.94 |
Exercise Science |
| JT Shumate |
University of Toledo |
Sr. |
3.85 |
Middle Childhood Education |
| Ben Vander Plas (2) |
Ohio University |
Gr. |
3.96/3.96 |
Management (G) |
| SECOND TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Antoine Davis |
University of Detroit Mercy |
Sr. |
3.39 |
Communications |
| Matt Dentlinger (3) |
South Dakota State University |
Gr. |
3.99/4.00 |
Engineering |
| AJ Green |
University of Northern Iowa |
Sr. |
3.67 |
Movement, Exercise Science & Sport Psychology |
| Gibson Jimerson |
Saint Louis University |
Jr. |
3.9 |
International Business |
| Kahliel Spear |
Robert Morris University |
Sr. |
3.92 |
Economics |
| THIRD TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Josh Bannan |
University of Montana |
So. |
3.91 |
Business Economics |
| Justin Bean |
Utah State University |
Gr. |
3.34/3.33 |
Kinesiology & Nutrition Science |
| Rocky Kreuser |
North Dakota State University |
Gr. |
3.62/4.00 |
University Studies (UG) / Health, Nutrition & Exercise Science |
| Chris Ledlum |
Harvard University |
Jr. |
3.47 |
Sociology |
| Luke Smith (2) |
Belmont University |
Gr. |
3.67/3.92 |
Business Administration (UG) / MBA (G) |
(1) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(2) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(3) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(4) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(5) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(6) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
NCAA Division II
The 2021-22 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference South Division Player of the Year,
Tyler Riemersma, who has been named to the Academic All-America® team for the third time, is averaging a double-double, having scored 18.2 points per game and pulled down 11.1 rebounds per content. The native of Bloomington, Minnesota, currently ranks No. 7 in the country in rebounds per game and No. 10 in double-doubles (16). Riemersma, a D2CCA NCAA Division II Men's Basketball All-Central Region first-team honoree, graduated with a degree in data science and currently holds a perfect 4.00 GPA as a graduate student in sport administration Leadership. He scored 20 plus points in eight games this season and has reached double-figure scoring in 19 contests.
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 Division II Academic All-America® program.
Five of the 15 members of the Academic All-America® Division II men’s basketball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The five members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.98, with the entire men’s team holding a collective average GPA of 3.83.
Nine student-athletes are repeat selection on the Academic All-America® Division II men’s basketball team – Riemersma,
Harry Cavell (Seattle Pacific University),
Trenton Gibson (Tusculum University),
Elijah Jenkins (Embry-Riddle (Fla.) University,
John Paul Kromka (University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown),
Ronnie Silva (Adelphi University),
Andrew Sischo (Daemen College),
Brendan Sullivan (Colorado School of Mines) and
Jared Vitztum (Fort Hays State University).
| FIRST TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Trenton Gibson (2) |
Tusculum University |
Gr. |
3.95/4.00 |
Sport Management (UG) / MBA (G) |
| John Paul Kromka (1, 6) |
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown |
Sr. |
3.92 |
Engineering |
| Cade McKnight |
Truman State University |
Gr. |
4.00/4.00 |
Leadership |
| Tyler Riemersma (2, 6) |
Augustana University |
Gr. |
3.90/4.00 |
Data Science (UG) / Sport Administration Leadership (G) |
| Jared Vitztum (2) |
Fort Hays State University |
Gr. |
3.90/4.00 |
Finance |
| SECOND TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Austin Andrews |
University of Minnesota Duluth |
So. |
3.89 |
Pre-Civil Engineering |
| Harry Cavell (3) |
Seattle Pacific University |
Gr. |
3.84/3.78 |
Business Administration (UG) / Data Analytics (G) |
| Elijah Jenkins (2, 6) |
Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) |
Gr. |
3.98/4.00 |
Mechanical Engr. (UG) / Mechanical Engr. (G) |
| Andrew Sischo (5) |
Daemen College |
Gr. |
3.44/3.45 |
Business Administration |
| Brendan Sullivan (2) |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
3.86 |
Civil Engineering |
| THIRD TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Patrick Cartier |
Hillsdale College |
Jr. |
3.43 |
Psychology |
| Kyle Daggett |
Shepherd University |
Gr. |
3.85/3.85 |
Biology (UG) / MBA (G) |
| Parker Hicks |
Lubbock Christian University |
Gr. |
3.77/3.75 |
MAT in Secondary Education (G) |
| Antonin Kemkeng |
Thomas Jefferson University |
Jr. |
3.86 |
Finance |
| Ronnie Silva (3) |
Adelphi University |
Sr. |
3.66 |
Sport Management |
(
1) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(2) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(3) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(4) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(5) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(6) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
NCAA Division III
Matthew Leritz has led Illinois Wesleyan to an elite eight appearance in the NCAA Division III National Championship after earning College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin’s Fred Young Most Outstanding Player of the Year honors. A three-time All-CCIW selection, Leritz averaged 18.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over IWU's 16-game conference slate. The St. Louis, Missouri, native scored double-digit points in all 16 of Illinois Wesleyan’s conference games, including a career-high 31-point effort in a win over Wheaton. Leritz currently holds a 3.96 GPA in finance.
The Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 Division III Academic All-America® program.
Two of the 15 members of the Academic All-America® Division III men’s basketball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The five members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.82, with the entire men’s team holding a collective average GPA of 3.83.
Five other student-athletes join Leritz as a repeat selection on the Academic All-America® Division III men’s basketball team –
Buzz Anthony Randolph-Macon College),
Jack Davidson (Wabash College),
Gabriel Leifer (Yeshiva Universit
y),
Jordan Johnson (Concordia (Wisc.) University) and
Jack Nolan (Washington University in St. Louis).
| FIRST TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Jack Davidson (6, 8) |
Wabash College |
Sr. |
3.68 |
Economics |
| Bobby Hawkinson |
New York University |
Sr. |
3.68 |
Economics / History |
| Gabriel Leifer (1, 5) |
Yeshiva University |
Gr. |
3.72/3.85 |
Accounting & Management (UG) / Real Estate (G) |
| Matthew Leritz (1) |
Illinois Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
3.96 |
Finance |
| Matthew Schner |
Emory University |
Sr. |
3.91 |
Business Administration |
| SECOND TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Nyameye Adom |
Wheaton College (Illinois) |
Gr. |
3.57/3.70 |
Computer Science (UG) / Global Leadership (G) |
| Kasey Draper |
Roanoke College |
Jr. |
4 |
Business Administration |
| Eli Hartjes |
Edgewood College |
Sr. |
3.9 |
Elementary Education |
| Jack Nolan (2) |
Washington University in St. Louis |
Gr. |
3.6 |
Finance (G) |
| Tyler Watson |
Wabash College |
Sr. |
3.88 |
Chemistry / Mathematics |
| THIRD TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Josh Angle |
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps |
Jr. |
3.93 |
Economics |
| Buzz Anthony (3) |
Randolph-Macon College |
Sr. |
3.44 |
Mathematics |
| Elijah Hales |
DePauw University |
Jr. |
3.98 |
Economics |
| Jordan Johnson (3) |
Concordia University Wisconsin |
Gr. |
3.70/4.00 |
Psychology |
| Lukas Yurasits |
Susquehanna University |
Sr. |
3.94 |
Chemistry / Physics |
(1) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(2) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(3) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(4) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(5) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(6) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(8) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2018-19
NAIA
A unanimous Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year award recipient for the second-straight season,
Alex Gross is currently averaging 23.5 points per game and 14.3 rebounds per contest. Gross has guided Olivet Nazarene into the 2022 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship and leads the NAIA in numerous categories which includes rebounds a game (14.3), total rebounds (473), total blocks (108) and total points (776). The native of Hope, Ind., has tallied three 40-point games, a pair of 30-point games, 29 double-doubles, a pair of triple-doubles this season and currently is maintaining a 3.72 GPA as a sport management major.
The NAIA Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NAIA national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 NAIA Academic All-America® program.
Two of the 10 members of the Academic All-America® NAIA men’s basketball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The five members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.92, with the entire men’s team holding a collective average GPA of 3.84.
Three other student-athletes join Gross as a repeat selection on the Academic All-America® NAIA men’s basketball team –
Zach Imig (Morningside University),
Carter Kent (Concordia (Neb.) University) and
Jaylon Scott (Bethel College).
| FIRST TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Alex Gross (2) |
Olivet Nazarene University |
Sr. |
3.72 |
Sport Management |
| Zach Imig (1, 4, 8) |
Morningside University |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Biopsychology / Business Administration |
| Carter Kent (1) |
Concordia University (Neb.) |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Biology |
| Riley Minix |
Southeastern University |
Jr. |
3.95 |
Exercise Science |
| John Yaeger |
Missouri Baptist University |
Gr. |
3.93 |
Accounting |
| SECOND TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Jason Hubbard |
Taylor University |
Sr. |
3.42 |
Sport Management |
| Tom Kazanecki |
St. Ambrose University |
Gr. |
3.67/3.67 |
Physical Therapy (G) |
| Bo Sandquist |
Midland University |
Sr. |
3.94 |
Biology & Psychology |
| Jaylon Scott (2) |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
3.74 |
Business Administration |
| Jacob Vis |
Dordt University |
Jr. |
3.98 |
Health & Human Performance - Exercise Science |
(
1) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(2) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(3) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21
(4) – 1st team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(5) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(6) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2019-20
(8) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2018-19
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michael MacEachern, Young Harris College | Academic All-America® Co-Director for Publicity
mfmaceachern@yhc.edu | (706) 379-5106
Todd Wetmore, Liberty University | Academic All-America® Coordinator of Publicity
twetmore@liberty.edu | (434) 582-2292