National Association of Basketball Coaches, Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Allstate Name 20 College Basketball Players to 2015 Good Works Teams®

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company today announced the 20 student-athletes named to the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^®. For the third year, this prestigious award pays tribute to college basketball players at all levels for their impressive commitment to giving back to their communities and positively impacting the lives of those around them. From improving environmental sustainability on college campuses to helping impoverished communities overseas, the service accomplishments of this year's team are some of the most impressive to date.

The Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® are each comprised of 10 student-athletes; five from NCAA^® Division I and five from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. Nominations were submitted by sports information directors and coaches at colleges and universities across the country, and a record total of 158 nominees from the NABC and 93 nominees from the WBCA were announced in early December 2014.

Distinguished voting panels comprised of former coaches, college basketball legends and media members narrowed down the outstanding submissions to the final two teams. Leading the voting panels for their respective teams were former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill and WNBA basketball star and University of Tennessee legend Tamika Catchings.

"Community service and giving back are an integral part of Allstate's core values, and recognizing the NABC and WBCA Good Works Team^® for their commitment in this area is one of the efforts we are most proud of," said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2015 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® selection panels. "In our third year partnering with the NABC and WBCA, we could not be more honored to have a role in recognizing truly deserving young athletes who encourage all of us to make a positive impact on those around us."   

The Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^®  have made it their mission to protect the integrity of the sport by highlighting the "good works'" that occur after the final buzzer. In addition to being college athletes and full-time students, these 20 young men and women have dedicated their invaluable free time to making a difference in the world around them. They each boast a long list of remarkable accolades that serve to inspire fans and communities across the nation.

"The WBCA is extremely excited to continue its partnership with Allstate in showing appreciation for these student-athletes who take time to invest in and further their respective communities," said WBCA executive director Danielle Donehew. "Congratulations to these outstanding 10 student-athletes who have helped make a difference and will continue to be leaders on and off the basketball court."

Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2015 NABC Convention and 2015 NCAA Men's Final Four^® in Indianapolis, where they will participate in a community project benefitting the host city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^® will be recognized during the 2015 WBCA Convention and at the 2015 NCAA Women's Final Four^® in Tampa, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.

"The NABC is proud to partner with Allstate as we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the men and women selected for the 2015 Good Works Teams," said Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC. "This group represents the best of the best of more than 250 student-athletes nominated this year. Each has made significant contributions to improve the quality of life in our world today."

The following players have been named to the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team^®:

The following players have been named to the 2015 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^®:

In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes 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 worked 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 making 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. 

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 www.wbca.org.

About the NCAA

The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 460,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.

About the 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, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2014, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $34 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 200,000 hours of service across the country.

NCAA, Final Four and Women's Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.  All other licenses or trademarks are property of their respective holders.

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