July 13, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced Monday the NABC Honors Court and redshirt junior Tim Burns (Franklinville, N.J.) and junior Freddy Obame Obame (Libreville, Gabon) were recognized for their academic efforts for the 2009-10 season.
The NABC Honors Court identifies the talents and gifts that collegiate basketball student-athletes possess off the court, and the hard work they exhibit in the classroom. In order to be named to the Honors Court, the student-athlete must meet a high standard of academic criteria. The qualifications are as follows:
1. Academically a junior or senior and a varsity player.
2. Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the 2009-10 academic year.
3. Students must have matriculated at least one year at their current institution.
4. Member of an NCAA Division I, II, III, or NAIA Institution.
"We are tremendously proud of Tim and Freddy's hard work in the classroom and on the court," said head coach Frankie Allen. "This is an outstanding honor for two very bright men who have proven themselves academically and are integral parts of what we are building as a program here at UMES."
Burns, a General Studies (Sociology) major, was the Hawks' second leading scorer with an average of 11.3 points per game. He started 21 games while putting up minutes in all 32 games for UMES. The point guard was also second on the team in assists, averaging 1.8 per game.
Obame Obame is an Accounting major and saw a lot of playing time as the season wore on, playing in 29 games for the Hawks while starting 13. He averaged 2.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by 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 claims 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.
