INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company today announced the 201 nominees for the 2014 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams®. The award recognizes a select group of college basketball student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the greater good of their communities through volunteerism and civic service.
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In its second year, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® honor players at all levels of college basketball who represent the sport's finest in the areas of leadership and charitable achievements amongst their peers. The student-athletes nominated for this prestigious award embody the true spirit of teamwork and giving back.
"Allstate is proud to recognize these two outstanding groups of men and women whose commitment to service and volunteerism demonstrate that 'good works' extend beyond the basketball court," said Pam Hollander, senior director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2014 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panels. "Each of the nominees serves as a role model and inspiration to future generations seeking ways to give back, and another reason to celebrate the good happening in our communities."
While jump shots and rebounds earn recognition on the hardwood, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® help tell the stories of good taking place off the court that often go unnoticed. It is those players who demonstrate the exceptional ability to balance academics with athletics while donating their limited free time to serving others who have been nominated by their respective colleges and universities for this prestigious honor.
The 2014 nominees uphold impressive service resumes detailing unique and inspiring stories of servitude. From volunteering with sick and underprivileged children to lobbying state legislature for new laws that could help save lives, this exceptional group of young men and women demonstrate the positive impact student-athletes can have on and off the court.
From the 117 NABC nominees and 84 WBCA nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, special voting panels will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA. Former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill will headline the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® voting panel, while WNBA basketball star Tamika Catchings, who played at the University of Tennessee, will serve on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® panel. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.
"The WBCA is honored to partner with Allstate in selecting the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® for the second year," said Beth Bass chief executive officer of the WBCA. "Each of the 84 young women who have been nominated by their respective head coaches for this prestigious honor have set examples that we all should follow. The selection committee will have a difficult time in selecting the 10-member team from this outstanding group of nominees."
Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA®, to the 2014 NABC Convention and 2014 NCAA® Men's Final Four® in Dallas, where they will participate in a community project in the city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2014 WBCA Convention and at the 2014 NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Nashville, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.
"The partnership of the NABC and Allstate provides an outstanding opportunity to recognize 117 men's college basketball players who have been nominated for the 2014 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®," said NABC Executive Director Jim Haney. "The contributions they have made locally, nationally and globally are uplifting and demonstrate their great compassion, spirit and determination."
In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2014 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball players Greg Anthony (UNLV), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Alana Beard (Duke); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech) and Nell Fortner (Auburn); current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State); and media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX).
Since 2008, Allstate has partnered with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, which shines a spotlight on the positive, off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities. Through an arrangement with the AFCA, NABC and WBCA, Allstate is able to expand the Good Works Team® to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to make a difference off the court.
More information about the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® and the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is available at www.nabc.org and www.wbca.org.
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2014 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®:
NCAA® Division I
Appalachian State University - Michael Obacha | South Dakota State University - Marcus Heemstra |
Arizona State University - Dave Whitmore | St. John's University (N.Y.) - God'sgift Achiuwa |
Boston College - Ryan Anderson | Stephen F. Austin State University - Desmond Haymon |
Brigham Young University - Tyler Haws | Tennessee State University - Patrick Miller |
Brown University - Rafael Maia | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Jake Kocher |
Butler University - Erik Fromm | The Citadel - Dylen Setzekorn |
Central Michigan University - Chris Fowler | Towson University - Timajh Parker-Rivera |
Cleveland State University - Ludovic Ndaye | Troy University - Jeffrey Mullahey |
College of Charleston - Willis Hall | U.S. Military Academy (Army) - Maxwell Lenox |
College of William and Mary - Tim Rusthoven | University of Alabama at Birmingham - Jordan Swing |
Creighton University - Ethan Wragge | University of North Carolina-Wilmington - Tanner Milson |
Eastern Kentucky University - Deverin Muff | University at Albany - David Wiegmann |
Florida State University - Okaro White | University of Arizona - Nick Johnson |
George Washington University - John Kopriva | University of Arkansas - Kikko Haydar |
Georgia State University - R.J. Hunter | University Detroit Mercy - Evan Bruinsma |
Gonzaga University - Drew Barham | University of Florida - Patric Young |
Hampton University - Deron Powers | University of Houston - Mikhail McLean |
Illinois State University - Nick Zeisloft | University of Kansas - Perry Ellis |
Indiana State University - Lucas Eitel | University of Kentucky - Jarrod Polson |
Iowa State University - Melvin Ejim | University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Ishaq Pitt |
Kansas State University - Will Spradling | University of Massachusetts - Trey Davis |
Mercer University - Langston Hall | University of Memphis - Joe Jackson |
New Mexico State University - Kevin Aronis | University of Michigan - Jordan Morgan |
North Carolina State University - Tyler Lewis | University of Notre Dame - Tom Knight |
Northwestern State University - Gary Stewart | University of Pennsylvania - Dau Jok |
Northwestern University - Drew Crawford | University of Pittsburgh - James Robinson |
Oakland University - Travis Bader | University of Tennessee, Knoxville - D'Montre Edwards |
Ohio State University - Aaron Craft | University of Texas - Javan Felix |
Ohio University - Nick Kellogg | University of the Pacific - Trevin Harris |
Quinnipiac University - Ousmane Drame | University of Tulsa - Nick Wood |
Rice University - Austin Ramljak | University of Vermont - Luke Apfeld |
Rider University - Emerson Bursis | University of Virginia - Joe Harris |
Saint Joseph's University - Chris Wilson | Utah State University - Danny Berger |
Saint Louis University - Jake Barnett | Wake Forest University - Aaron Rountree III |
Seattle University - Jarell Flora | West Virginia University - Kevin Noreen |
Seton Hall University - Patrik Auda | University of Wisconsin - Zach Bohannon |
Southern Methodist University - Shawn Williams | Youngstown State University - Mike Podolsky |
NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA
Albion College - Zach Hurth | Montana State University-Northern - Patrick Jensen |
Anderson University (S.C.) - Chandler Hash | Mount Aloysius College - Aaron Patrick |
Bard College - Patrick Lichtenstein | Newberry College - Brunes Charles |
Bethel University - Caleb Hardy | Oklahoma Baptist University - Cale Jackson |
Bluefield State College - Avery Holliday | Penn State Altoona - Michael Wigfield |
Central Washington University - Joey Roppo | Pittsburg State University - Jake Bullard |
Coker College - Eren Moses | Saint Augustine's University - Joel Kindred |
Colorado College - James Lonergan | Saint John's University (Minn.) - Jack Wittenborg |
Columbia (Mo.) College - Tanner Sutton | Saint Xavier University - Brad Karp |
Dominican University of California - Connor Haysbert | South Dakota School of Mines - Lance Kilburn |
East Central University - Miles Mitchell | Southwest Baptist University - Preston Guiot |
Eckerd College - Alex Bodney | Southwestern College - Tyler Shirley |
Felician College - Anthony Obery | St. Mary's College of Maryland - Nick LaGuerre |
Franklin & Marshall College - Ed Early | Union University (Tenn.) - Paul Valdor |
Hamilton College - Peter Kazickas | University of Mary Washington - Taylor Johnson |
Hope College - Grant Neil | University of Mobile - Cody Scott |
Illinois Wesleyan University - Nick Anderson | University of North Alabama - Wes Long |
Kalamazoo College - Grant Carey | University of Pikeville - Justice Elisha |
Kenyon College - Dan Giguere | University of the Ozarks - Andrew Cummings |
LaGrange College - Jalen Butler | University of West Alabama - Kyle Belcher |
Lake Superior State University - Cameron Metz | Westminster College - Paul Carswell |
Loyola University New Orleans - Cameron Hill |
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2014 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:
NCAA® Division I
College of The Holy Cross - Alex Smith | University of California-Berkeley - Avigiel Cohen |
East Carolina University - Ariana Jackson | University of Delaware - Kelsey Buchanan |
Florida Gulf Coast University - Sarah Hansen | University of Denver - Theresa Wirth |
Florida State University - Natasha Howard | University of Hartford - Alyssa Englert |
Fordham University - Abigail Corning | University of Hawaii - Kamilah Jackson |
Furman University - Brigid Morrissey | University of Illinois - Sarah Hartwell |
Georgia Institute of Technology - Shayla Bivins | University of Iowa - Kathryn Reynolds |
Harvard University - Kaitlyn Dinkins | University of Kentucky - Kastine Evans |
Iowa State University - Hallie Christofferson | University of Louisville - Jude Schimmel |
Kansas State University - Chantay Caron | University of Maine - Elizabeth Wood |
Louisiana State University - Theresa Plaisance | University of Massachusetts - Jasmine Harris |
McNeese State University - NeTanya Jones | University of Miami - Maria Brown |
Middle Tennessee State University - Janiece Johnson | University of Missouri-Kansas City - Eilise O'Connor |
Montana State University-Bozeman - Jackie Elliott | University of New Hampshire - Kelsey Hogan |
Norfolk State University - Jazamine Gray | University of New Mexico - Sara Halasz |
North Carolina A&T State University - Tracy King | University of North Dakota - Allyssa Wall |
Northwestern University - Meghan McKeown | University of South Carolina - Elem Ibiam |
Purdue University - Courtney Moses | University of Southern California - Cassie Harberts |
Rice University - Nakachi Maduka | University of Southern Mississippi - Niesha Pierce |
Seattle University - Kacie Sowell | University of Tennessee at Martin - Heather Butler |
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale - Jordyn Courier | University of Virginia - Lexie Gerson |
Stanford University - Chiney Ogwumike | University of Wisconsin - Morgan Paige |
Stephen F. Austin State University - Daylyn Harris | West Virginia University - Jessica Harlee |
Texas A&M University - Karla Gilbert | Western Kentucky University - Chaney Means |
University of Akron - Rachel Tecca | Winthrop University - Taylor Calvert |
University of Alabama - Nikki Hegstetter | Youngstown State University - Heidi Schlegel |
NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA
Central Washington University - Jessica VanDyke | Oklahoma Wesleyan University - Courtney Backward |
Davenport University - Alison Bouman | Quincy University - Lucy Cramsey |
Dillard University - Amber Tramel | Roosevelt University - Rebecca Williford |
Gannon University - Jen Papich | Saint Cloud State University - Carley Jeffery |
Geneva College - Heidi Mann | St. Mary's University - Dezirae Elias |
Georgia College & State University - Shanteona Keys | Trinity University (Texas) - Hannah Coley |
Hillsdale College - Megan Fogt | Union College - Amy Loya |
Illinois Wesleyan University - Alexa Baltes | University of Alabama-Huntsville - Shannon Steinert |
Loyola University - Jasmine Brewer | University of Mary Washington - Sam Partonen |
Marymount University - Katelyn Fischer | University of St. Francis - Paige Stankus |
Metropolitan State University of Denver - Amy Nelson | Valley City State University - Brittany Lehner |
Minnesota State University-Mankato - Alexandra Wilkinson | Warner Pacific College - Jessica Thoens |
Montana State University-Northern - Taylor Cummings | Washington University in St. Louis - Lucy Montgomery |
Moravian College - Laura Jordan | Westminster College (Mo.) - Leigh Ann Lutz |
Nova Southeastern University - Jessica Valley | Wingate University - Jasmine DeBerry |
Ohio Dominican University - Christina Pentaudi | Worcester State University - Michel'le St. Pierre |
About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Forrest "Phog" Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.org.
About the Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.
About AFCA
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.
NCAA, Final Four and Women's Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company
