National Association of Basketball Coaches, Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Allstate Announce 201 Nominees to Good Works Teams®

Second annual award recognizes college basketball student-athletes for their commitment to volunteerism

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Dec 03, 2013, 09:36 ET

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 theAllstate 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.

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