Kansas City, MO—The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) today announced the 2016-17 NABCHonors Court, recognizing those men's collegiate basketball student-athletes who excelled in academics during the past season. The NABC Honors Court recognizes the talents and gifts that these men possess off the court and the hard work they exhibit in the classroom. @NABC1927 invites you to share the success of these student-athletes using #NABCHonorsCourt.
Representing The Sage Colleges on the squad were two members of the men's basketball team, senior Alex Lilac (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) and junior Frane Larose (Miami, FL/North Miami Beach Senior). Lilac, who was also honored this past spring as Sage's Dr. Sharon Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year, is now a three-time NABC Honors Court member, while this year's selection for Larose was a first. Lilac majored in physical education at Sage, while Larose is a business administration and sports management major at Sage, who also wrapped his first year as Sage having also competed as a member of Sage's 2017 men's track and field team.
In order to be named to the Honors Court, a student-athlete must meet a high standard of academic criteria. The qualifications are as follows:
1. Academically a junior or senior and a varsity player.
2. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic year.
3. Students must have matriculated at least one year at their current institution.
4. Member of a NCAA Division I, II, III, or NAIA Division I or II institution with a NABC member coach.
The 2016-2017 men's basketball team and several individuals were ranked nationally among the top performers for the season after an impressive campaign. By year's wrap, Sage went 17-10 mark overall, bringing home the 2017 Skyline Conference Runner-up Trophy after winning the league's North Division III regular-season crown.
The Gators were ranked in 32 different statistical categories, while also standing in the Top 100 programs charted in 14 areas. Among the top national rankings for the Gators, Sage was 15th in forced turnovers (18.48), 21st in steals per game average (9.9), No. 22 in total steals (266), 29th in three point field goal percentage defense (31.0%), as well as 34th in both blocks per game (4.7) and field goal percentage defense (40.6%).