The CWU men’s basketball team prevailed against Saint Martin’s University this past Thursday, March 1, with a 92-86 victory. This win earned them a spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament. Along with this victory, five players have earned GNAC All-Academic team honors.
Nominees for the accomplishment of GNAC All-Academic team honors must meet certain requirements in order to be considered for the teams: they must be in their second year at the institution, be on the team roster for the entire season and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2.
This is senior forward Samaad Hector’s first year earning this team honors, and it is also his last year with CWU. While he was recognized for holding a 3.61 GPA in sociology, Hector will also be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in social work from CWU as well as a master’s degree in law from the University of Colorado.
On the season, Hector is averaging 12.8 points per game (PPG), 8.7 rebounds per game (RPG) while shooting 51% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc, showing his prowess extends to both off the court and on it.
Junior guard Colby Gennett, who has made the team three years in a row, shared his opinion on earning team honors. “It’s really just doing what I’m supposed to be doing, it’s just what I’ve always done and what works out for me,” Gennet said. He has the highest GPA on the team with a 3.82 in business administration.
Sophomore guard Xavier Kamalu-Vargas was also honored with a 3.39 GPA in communication studies. “I believe we have whatever is needed for student-athletes to achieve the best grades possible,” Kamalu-Vargas said. “We even have our own study hall.”
Other players mentioned that also were recognized with honors were junior forward Mitch Brizee and redshirt sophomore guard Noah Pepper. Pepper earned a 3.79 GPA and his major is currently undecided, while Brizee earned a 3.72 GPA in business administration. Brizee and Gennett are the only members of the men’s basketball team to be selected more than once to the GNAC All-Academic team.
Brizee has been averaging 5.5 points per game (PPG), with 3.9 rebounds per game (RPG). He has also shot 63% from the field this season, solidifying himself as an offensive and academic weapon.
The GNAC tournament will take place this upcoming week from March 7-9, on campus in the Tomlinson Pavilion where both of CWU’s basketball teams will be defending their home turf. On Thursday, the men’s team will go up against the Seattle Pacific Falcons at 7:30 p.m. and the women’s team is facing off against the Simon Fraser Red Leafs at 2:15 p.m.
