Photo by: Sullivan Lawrence
Basketball Teams Each Land Two I-AAA Scholar-Athlete Team Honorees
5/9/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Ryan Kalkbrenner also receives postgraduate scholarship
OMAHA, Neb. -- Two members of both the Creighton men's and women's basketball teams have been named to the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's 22nd Annual Scholar-Athlete Team. In addition, the association selected a men's and women's scholar-athlete of the year and two postgraduate scholarship recipients.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth landed on the Men's Scholar-Athlete Team. Kalkbrenner was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for the third time and was an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America selection as he averaged 17.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while ranking second nationally with 107 blocked shots. Ashworth averaged 11.1 points and 4.2 assists per contest while making 80 three-pointers. He picked up the BIG EAST's Sportsmanship Award. The Creighton men finished 25-10 and reached its third Sweet 16 in the past four seasons.
Kalkbrenner also was the $5,000 postgraduate scholarship recipient on the men's side. Kalkbrenner is a graduate student that is studying sports leadership. He is also a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection. Belmont's Tuti Jones won the women's $5,000 scholarship for her postgraduate studies. Additionally, one male and one female student-athlete are annually selected as the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. This year, both the male and female recipients are from Belmont University, Tessa Miller and Isaiah Walker.
Morgan Maly and Lauren Jensen were recognized on the women's side. Both women are regulars on the Creighton Dean's List and also First Team All-BIG EAST selections on the hardwood. Jensen led CU with 17.4 points per game and 74 three-pointers made, while Maly averaged 15.2 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per contest. The Bluejay women finished 26-6 and reached the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Both Jensen and Kalkbrenner were also on the I-AAA Scholar-Athlete Team a year ago.
"We are so excited to recognize and congratulate this year's men's and women's scholar-athlete teams," stated Division I-AAA ADA President, Director of Athletics at the University of North Carolina Asheville, Janet R. Cone. "We are fortunate to honor such deserving scholars, in addition to providing the postgraduate scholarship awards. The time and effort these aspiring individuals dedicate to their sport and our universities is a testament to their work ethic both in the classroom and on the court."
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious annual awards. Each of the nominees is required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, individuals must have reached junior academic standing at their respective institution (ineligible athletics transfers are not eligible).
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About Division I-AAA ADA: Now in its 23rd year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (the 98 Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. For more information on the Division I-AAA ADA, please visit www.div1aaa-ada.com. The Division I-AAA ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 59th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth landed on the Men's Scholar-Athlete Team. Kalkbrenner was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for the third time and was an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America selection as he averaged 17.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while ranking second nationally with 107 blocked shots. Ashworth averaged 11.1 points and 4.2 assists per contest while making 80 three-pointers. He picked up the BIG EAST's Sportsmanship Award. The Creighton men finished 25-10 and reached its third Sweet 16 in the past four seasons.
Kalkbrenner also was the $5,000 postgraduate scholarship recipient on the men's side. Kalkbrenner is a graduate student that is studying sports leadership. He is also a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection. Belmont's Tuti Jones won the women's $5,000 scholarship for her postgraduate studies. Additionally, one male and one female student-athlete are annually selected as the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. This year, both the male and female recipients are from Belmont University, Tessa Miller and Isaiah Walker.
Morgan Maly and Lauren Jensen were recognized on the women's side. Both women are regulars on the Creighton Dean's List and also First Team All-BIG EAST selections on the hardwood. Jensen led CU with 17.4 points per game and 74 three-pointers made, while Maly averaged 15.2 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per contest. The Bluejay women finished 26-6 and reached the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Both Jensen and Kalkbrenner were also on the I-AAA Scholar-Athlete Team a year ago.
"We are so excited to recognize and congratulate this year's men's and women's scholar-athlete teams," stated Division I-AAA ADA President, Director of Athletics at the University of North Carolina Asheville, Janet R. Cone. "We are fortunate to honor such deserving scholars, in addition to providing the postgraduate scholarship awards. The time and effort these aspiring individuals dedicate to their sport and our universities is a testament to their work ethic both in the classroom and on the court."
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious annual awards. Each of the nominees is required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, individuals must have reached junior academic standing at their respective institution (ineligible athletics transfers are not eligible).
Â
About Division I-AAA ADA: Now in its 23rd year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (the 98 Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. For more information on the Division I-AAA ADA, please visit www.div1aaa-ada.com. The Division I-AAA ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 59th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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