CLEVELAND, Ohio - Texas A&M Corpus Christi basketball student-athletes
Brittany Mbamalu and
Kareem South have been named to the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar Athlete Team, presented by ARMS Software.
"On behalf of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards as well as those who have earned a postgraduate scholarship," stated Tim Hall, current Division I-AAA ADA President and athletics director at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). "Our association prides itself in honoring student-athletes who model success both in the classroom and in their sport. These recipients are proof that student-athletes have the ability to devote their time to their studies and still perform at the highest level of collegiate athletics."
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees was required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.20 - on a 4.00 scale - in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent (50%) of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, he/she must have reached junior academic standing at their institution (ineligible athletics transfers are NOT eligible).
"Once again, our association is excited to announce this year's men's and women's basketball Scholar-Athlete Teams and Awards recipients," stated Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team Selection Committee Chair and Athletics Director at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi,
Scott Lazenby. "The quality of all of our nominees exceeded our expectations and made this year's decision process even more difficult than in years past. Congratulations to all of the honorees."
A special Review Committee of Division I-AAA Athletics Directors were responsible for selecting the winners. The 2018 Review Committee consisted of: Lazenby (Committee Chair); Amanda Braun, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Don DiJulia, St. Joseph's; Bill Husak, Loyola Marymount; Philip Hutcheson, Lipscomb; Jean Lenti Ponsetto, DePaul; Kenneth Siegfied, CSU Bakersfield; Irma Garcia, St. Francis; and Robert Lineburg, Radford.
Mbamalu started all 31 games for the Islanders, averaging 12.9 points and 4.1 rebounds during her senior season. She connected on 82 three-point attempts and concluded her career with a school record 289 long range makes. With 1,227 points, she finishes her four-year run ranked fifth all time in career scoring. She finished ninth in the SLC in scoring as a senior and set personal bests with 128 rebounds, 74 assists and 29 steals. She earned second-team All-Southland Conference honors and received her second straight All-SLC Academic accolade as a second-team honoree.
South earned First Team All-SLC Academic honors as a sophomore and started all 29 games this season. He averaged 11.4 points per game and recorded 15 games in double digits. South posted a career-high 23 points against Lamar. A native of Toronto, Ont., he was ranked as the 14th best current Canadian player at a mid-major by SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness.
This is the first academic honor for the Biomedical Science major, whom was the top vote-getter to be named to the all-academic team. South has recorded over a 3.0 every semester at the Island and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society this year.
Men's Scholar-Athlete Team
| Name |
Institution |
GPA |
Major |
| Evan Bailey |
College of Charleston |
3.74 |
Chemistry |
| Clayton Cluster |
Loyola University Chicago |
3.52 |
Finance |
| Rokas Gustys |
Hofstra University |
3.67 |
Rhetorical Studies |
| Albert Owens |
Oral Roberts University |
3.76 |
History |
| Josh Perkins |
Gonzaga University |
3.26 |
Sport Management |
| Ben Richardson |
Loyola University Chicago |
3.41 |
Finance |
| Joseph Sherburne |
UMBC |
4.00 |
Financial Economics |
| Kareem South |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
3.53 |
Biomedical Science |
| Kevin Vannatta |
UNC Asheville |
3.93 |
Accounting |
| Reilly Walsh |
NJIT |
4.00 |
Management Information Systems |
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Kevin Vannatta, UNC Asheville
Women's Scholar-Athlete Team
| Name |
Institution |
GPA |
Major |
| Lindsey Abed |
University of Hartford |
3.61 |
Psychology |
| Taylor Gradinjan |
FGCU |
4.00 |
Exercise Science |
| Mart'e Grays |
DePaul University |
3.29 |
Sociology |
| Kamila Hoskova |
Rider University |
3.86 |
Math & Economics |
| Jackie Kemph |
Saint Louis University |
3.76 |
Accounting |
| Brittany Mbamalu |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
3.60 |
Public Administration |
| Sally McCabe |
Belmont University |
3.86 |
Psychology |
| Victoria Rampado |
Niagra University |
3.59 |
Education |
| Chandler Smith |
Gonzaga University |
3.94 |
Marketing |
| Kylee Smith |
Belmont University |
3.92 |
Busines Administration |
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Kylee Smith, Belmont University
