LATHAM, N.Y. - Three men's basketball teams from the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) were recognized late last week as the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced its 2019-20 individual and team academic awards.

Seven student-athletes from three NEAC institutions were among the more than 1,350 men's collegiate basketball players named to the 2019-20 NABC Honors Court. In order to be named to the Honors Court, honorees must meet the following qualifications:
1. Academically a junior or senior and a varsity player.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the 2019-20 academic year.
3. Matriculated for at least one year at current institution.
4. Member of a NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA Division I or II institution with a NABC member coach.

Penn College led all NEAC institutions with four selections with seniors Ben Sosa (Williamsport, Pa.), Ryan Lockman (White Salmon, Wash.), Frank Tuason (Tuckahoe, N.Y.) and junior Brody Baker (Lock Haven, Pa.) representing the Wildcats. Baker led Penn College's contingent with a 3.89 GPA as a Physician Assistant major. Sosa's academic honors follow a season in which he also earned NEAC All-Second Team honors after averaging 17.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in 26 games.

The Penn State Harrisburg duo of Clinton Asalu (Willingboro, N.J.) and Brandon Coleman (York, Pa.) also garnered academic honors for their work during the 2019-20 academic year. Asalu was one of the Lions' team captains and appeared in 29 games last season before graduating in May with a cumulative 3.2 GPA in Mechanical Engineering. Coleman saw his season on the court cut short due to injury but the junior guard majoring in Finance continued to excel in the classroom with a 3.42 cumulative GPA.

Penn State Abington's Bobby Olsen (Florida, N.Y.) was the final representative from the NEAC to earn a spot on the NABC Honors Court list. Olsen started in 21 of the 22 games he appeared in, averaging 6.3 points and four rebounds per contest. He graduated in May with a degree in Criminal Justice.

Complete List of 2019-20 NABC Honors Court Recipients

Penn State Abington and Penn State Harrisburg were also recognized with the 2019-20 NABC Team Academic Excellence Award. These awards recognize the outstanding academic achievement by a team with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better for the 2019-20 season. For Abington, this year's honor marks the first in program history for the Nittany Lions' squad. Penn State Harrisburg's award follows a historic season for the Lions where they won a program-record 21 games and their first NEAC Championship. The Lions wrapped up the academic year with a 3.29 team GPA. 

Complete List of 2019-20 NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has eight NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, and Wells College. Associate members are Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf), and SUNY Potsdam (M Volleyball). The NEAC has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse and the North Atlantic Conference in men’s tennis and women’s tennis. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.