Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

2020-2021 NABC Honors Court

July 27, 2021 - North Central College men's basketball players Will Clausel, Matthew Helwig, Michael Pollack and Matt Smietanski have been recognized with selections to the National Association of Basketball Coaches' (NABC) Honors Court, in recognition of excellence in academics, matching the Cardinals' largest representation on the list of honorees since the award's inception. 

The Honors Court consists of varsity student-athletes who have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point average and achieved junior or senior academic standing. Pollack is a third-year recipient of the award, while Helwig and Smietanski are second-time honorees.

Clausel, a broadcast communication major, appeared in eight of the Cardinals' games this season, starting five and averaging 8.8 points per game. Helwig, a sport management major, ranked second on the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game, shared the team lead in rebounds per game (6.1) and led North Central in assists (3.0 per game) and steals (1.1 per game). Pollack, a double major in physics and economics, averaged 9.4 points per game and ranks second in the program's history in three-point shots made (206) and third in three-point percentage (.438), while Smietanski put up 8.1 points per game and shared the team lead in field-goal percentage (.492).

A total of 23 CCIW representatives appear on this year's Honors Court. North Central players have earned 19 Honors Court selections since the program's introduction in 2012. Click HERE to see a list of previous honorees.

The Cardinals finished the 2020-2021 campaign with an overall record of 5-5. The 2021-2022 season is set to begin Wednesday, Nov. 10, when North Central hosts California Lutheran University at Gregory Arena.