SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (July 22, 2025) - The Western New England men's basketball team, coming off their most historic season in program history, has earned postseason awards from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as a team as well as individually, as announced by the organization this week.
Western New England men's basketball earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award for a second straight season. The NABC recognizes men's college basketball programs that excelled in academics during the previous season with the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award. In order to receive the Team Academic Excellence Award, a program must achieve a team GPA of 3.0 or higher for the previous year. All grade point averages from student-athletes that are listed on the team's roster are accounted for. All four-year or two-year colleges with at least one active NABC-member coach are eligible.
Additionally, the NABC handed out the Honors Court award, which is given to men's basketball student-athletes individually who excelled in academics during the previous season. In order to be named to the Honors Court, a student-athlete must meet a high standard of academic criteria. The criteria, set forth by the organization, are below.
- Must be academically a junior, senior, or graduate student and a varsity player.
- Must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the academic year.
- Must be a member of a four-year institution with a least one active NABC-member coach.
Nine members of the conference champion WNE men's basketball team accomplished this feat, including
Jamani Alves (Fall River, Mass.),
Brian Geitner (Tolland, Conn.),
Jake Harrison (South Boston, Mass.),
Matt Houde (Windsor Locks, Conn.),
Nate Kasper (Hopkinton, Mass.),
Ryan Michaels (Fulton, N.Y.),
Cody Palazzesi (Somers, Conn.),
Tim Restall (Tolland, Conn.), and
Luka Vlajkovic (Melrose, Mass.). This is the second honor for Alves, Geitner, Harrison, Michaels, and Restall, while Houde, Kasper, Palazzesi, and Vlajkovic earn honors for the first time overall.
WNE men's basketball put together their most historic season to date in 2024-2025, coming up with a 23-7 record overall, winning the Conference of New England title for the first time in program history, while also winning their first NCAA Division III Championships game in program history, advancing all the way to the Sweet-16 round. The 23 wins on the year are tied for the most in program history, matching a 23-win season in 1989-1990.
