National Association of Basketball Coaches, Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Allstate Name 20 College Basketball Players to 2017 Good Works Teams®

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today the 20 student-athletes who have been named to the 2017 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^®. While exceptional student-athletes are often rewarded for their competitive achievements, this award shines a light on 20 young men and women for the things they accomplish off the court. From contributing to those affected by the Flint water crisis to visiting Nigeria to educate girls about how to succeed on and off the basketball court, this year's teams made a positive, lasting impact.

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. This year, sports information directors and coaches at colleges and universities across the country submitted a record 278 nominations, and in December 2016, 181 nominees from the NABC and 97 nominees from the WBCA were announced.

The nominees were narrowed down to the final 20 players by voting panels led by former Duke University guard, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill and former Notre Dame star, three-time NCAA All-American and two-time WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins of the Dallas Wings. Both Hill and Diggins are making positive contributions that extend far beyond the basketball court, dedicating their time to various philanthropic initiatives, including teaching youth the importance of nutrition and physical activity. Each panel is comprised of a select group of former and current college basketball coaches and players as well as various members of the media.

"Allstate is thrilled to be joining the NABC and WBCA for a fifth consecutive year to highlight the remarkable displays of character demonstrated by student-athletes around the country," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2017 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® selection panels. "We are proud to be a part of a program that places such high value on altruism and community service, both of which are intrinsic to Allstate's mission."

In addition to dedicating countless hours to their studies and athletics, the members of this year's team have spent their limited free time bettering communities all over the world and demonstrating a strong commitment to improving the lives of others.

"The WBCA is proud of the 10 young women and 10 young men selected to this year's Allstate Good Works Teams from the 278 student-athletes who were nominated for the honor," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. "We are inspired by their commitment and dedication to serving others. And we are most grateful to Allstate for sponsoring this wonderful program through which we all can recognize our young leaders and celebrate their lasting contributions of love, kindness, and hope."

Since 2013, members of the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® have given back to the host cities of the NCAA^® Final Fours^® through a community service initiative and monetary donation. This year, members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® will be invited by Allstate to be recognized at the 2017 NABC Convention and 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four^® and will participate in a community service project to benefit Phoenix. Additionally, the members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^® will be recognized during the 2017 WBCA Convention and at the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four^® in Dallas, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.

"For five years, the Allstate Good Works Team program has showcased men's and women's basketball collegiate athletes for their extraordinary benevolent actions performed away from the court," said Jim Haney, NABC executive director. "We applaud the group of 20 selected for this year's teams whose humanitarian efforts have helped raise the human spirit locally, nationally and globally."

The following student-athletes have been named to the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team^®:

The following student-athletes have been named to the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^®:

In addition to Hill, Diggins and Clarkson, the 2017 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Clark Kellogg (Ohio State University / CBS Sports), Len Elmore (University of Maryland /FOX Sports / ESPN) and Alana Beard (Duke University); media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated / CBS Sports), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), LaChina Robinson (ESPN / FOX) and Brenda VanLengen (ESPN / FOX Sports); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (Georgia Tech / College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech University) and Nell Fortner (Auburn University); and current coach Coquese Washington (Penn State University).

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 is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.wbca.org for more details about the Association.

About the NCAA
The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for nearly half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit ncaa.org and ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola as official corporate champions and the following elite companies as official corporate partners: Allstate, Amazon Echo, Bing (Microsoft), Buffalo Wild Wings, Buick, Enterprise, Infiniti, LG, Lowe's, Nabisco, Northwestern Mutual, Pizza Hut, Reese's, Unilever and Wendy's.

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. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities.

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.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company