Kansas City, Mo. - The National Association of Basketball Coaches released its 2025-26 Team Academic Excellence Awards and NABC Honors Court on Wednesday. Johnson & Wales Charlotte's men's basketball team was honored both at the team and player levels.

The team earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence award for academic achievement during the 2025-26 school year. The award is given to teams who complete the year with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Wildcats were the only NCAA Division III team in the state of North Carolina to be honored, and was one of ten North Carolina colleges and universities to be so honored.

Senior Ethan Smith was selected to the NABC Honors Court. Honors Court members are junior, senior, or graduate level basketball student-athletes who finish the season with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Smith graduated in May with a degree in Business Administration. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds during his senior season. 

NABC Release