FOUR SAGE MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO NABC'S HONORS COURT

National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2020-2021 Honors Court NABC Recognizes Outstanding Academic Achievement

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  -- The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) today announced the 2020-2021 NABC Honors 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.  The NABC encourages you to share the success of these student-athletes using #NABCHonorsCourt. In order to be named to the Honors Court, a student-athlete must meet a high standard of academic criteria.

Honored from the Gator men's basketball team are senior Morgan Shute (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette), as well as juniors Ryan Long (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park), Jason Geronimo (Orlando, FL/Colonial), and Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Tyler Christian School). Shute, Phair, and Geronimo are business administration majors at Sage, while Long is a physical education major at Sage.

Head coach Brian Barnes noted, "Our coaching staff couldn't be more proud of the academic achievement, dedication and leadership shown by Morgan, Jason, Stuart and Ryan during this challenging time." Barnes, continued, "All four have shown great commitment towards our five core values;  Growth Mindset, Positivity, Togetherness, Dependability and Caring.  Today, we congratulate them and celebrate their selection to the NABC Honors Court.  Congratulations!"

Shute was also honored in 2019-2020 with his first selection to the NABC Team.  Phair earned a spot on the Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year Team and earlier this summer, was also named to the 2020-2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for his success on the hardwood and in the classroom.

Sage's men's basketball team wrapped their 2020-2021 season having earned a spot in the Empire 8 tournament and fell in the semifinals, 66-63 to top seeded St. John Fisher College. The Gators finished the season with a record of 4-6 and collected a first-round tournament victory over Keuka College, 79-58.

Sage has now had 18 players honored by the NABC.       

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 2020-21 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.