University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Vols Collect Fifth NABC Team Excellence Award in a Row; Seven on NABC Honors Court
July 15, 2026 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced Wednesday its team and individual academic honors for the 2025-26 academic year, with the University of Tennessee men's basketball program garnering recognition in each category.
The Volunteers earned the NABC Team Excellence Award for the fifth straight year. They are the only team in the SEC to make the cut in each of the past five seasons, with no other program in the league boasting a streak of even four years.
A total of seven SEC institutions are on the list in 2025-26. Tennessee is named alongside Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Texas and Vanderbilt. Only two of those schools—Ole Miss and Texas—own even a three-year recognition streak.
The NABC Team Excellence Award is given to programs that record a GPA of at least 3.0 during the academic year. Tennessee far surpassed that mark with a 3.71 tally that eclipsed the prior program record of 3.54 set just a year ago. The Volunteers also registered their best-ever GPAs in the fall (3.74) and spring (3.67) semesters.
Furthermore, all seven eligible Tennessee student-athletes reeled in NABC Honors Court designation. The plaudit is awarded to juniors, seniors and graduate students who amass a GPA of 3.2 or better during the academic year.
Grant Hurst netted the accolade for the third year in a row, this time as a graduate student enrolled in the agricultural leadership, education and communications program. Felix Okpara (retail and merchandising management) was selected for the second year in a row.
Five Volunteers also made the cut for the first time: Amaree Abram (information sciences), Jaylen Carey (information sciences), J.P. Estrella (recreation and sport management), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (information sciences) and Cade Phillips (business management).
All 16 Tennessee players made either the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll (seven) or the SEC First-Year Honor Roll (nine), both of which require a minimum GPA of 3.0. This is the second year in a row the entire team made the cut for the lists.
In addition, Tennessee newcomer Miles Rubin is listed for his academic success in 2025-26 at Loyola Chicago.
The entire list of 2025-26 NABC Honors Court selections is available HERE.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
The Volunteers earned the NABC Team Excellence Award for the fifth straight year. They are the only team in the SEC to make the cut in each of the past five seasons, with no other program in the league boasting a streak of even four years.
A total of seven SEC institutions are on the list in 2025-26. Tennessee is named alongside Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Texas and Vanderbilt. Only two of those schools—Ole Miss and Texas—own even a three-year recognition streak.
The NABC Team Excellence Award is given to programs that record a GPA of at least 3.0 during the academic year. Tennessee far surpassed that mark with a 3.71 tally that eclipsed the prior program record of 3.54 set just a year ago. The Volunteers also registered their best-ever GPAs in the fall (3.74) and spring (3.67) semesters.
Furthermore, all seven eligible Tennessee student-athletes reeled in NABC Honors Court designation. The plaudit is awarded to juniors, seniors and graduate students who amass a GPA of 3.2 or better during the academic year.
Grant Hurst netted the accolade for the third year in a row, this time as a graduate student enrolled in the agricultural leadership, education and communications program. Felix Okpara (retail and merchandising management) was selected for the second year in a row.
Five Volunteers also made the cut for the first time: Amaree Abram (information sciences), Jaylen Carey (information sciences), J.P. Estrella (recreation and sport management), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (information sciences) and Cade Phillips (business management).
All 16 Tennessee players made either the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll (seven) or the SEC First-Year Honor Roll (nine), both of which require a minimum GPA of 3.0. This is the second year in a row the entire team made the cut for the lists.
In addition, Tennessee newcomer Miles Rubin is listed for his academic success in 2025-26 at Loyola Chicago.
The entire list of 2025-26 NABC Honors Court selections is available HERE.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
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