INDIANAPOLIS -- The National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Allstate Insurance Company on Tuesday announced the 20 student-athletes named to the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams. For the third year, this prestigious award pays tribute to college basketball players at all levels for their impressive commitment to giving back to their communities and positively impacting the lives of those around them. From improving environmental sustainability on college campuses to helping impoverished communities overseas, the service accomplishments of this year’s team are some of the most impressive to date.
The Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams are each comprised of 10 student-athletes; five from Division I and five from Divisions II, III and the NAIA. Nominations were submitted by sports information directors and coaches at colleges and universities across the country, and a record total of 158 nominees from the NABC and 93 nominees from the WBCA were announced in early December 2014.
| 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division I | |||
| Kevin Alter | Sr. | G | U.S. Naval Academy |
| Malcolm Brogdon | Jr. | G | Virginia |
| Jordan Green | Sr. | G | Texas A&M |
| Michael Obacha | Jr. | F | Appalachian St. |
| Dominic Romeo | Grad. | F | Santa Clara |
| Division II, III and NAIA | |||
| Rob Anderson | Jr. | G | Cal Tech |
| Karl Barkley | Sr. | G | Swarthmore |
| Justin Kuhlman | Sr. | G | Belmont Abbey |
| Sam Pugh | Sr. | G | Pittsburg State |
| Joel Redfoot | Sr. | F | Penn State Altoona |
Distinguished voting panels comprised of former coaches, college basketball legends and media members narrowed down the outstanding submissions to the final two teams. Leading the voting panels for their respective teams were former Duke student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill and WNBA basketball star and Tennessee legend Tamika Catchings.
“Community service and giving back are an integral part of Allstate's core values, and recognizing the NABC and WBCA Good Works Team for their commitment in this area is one of the efforts we are most proud of,” said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2015 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams selection panels. “In our third year partnering with the NABC and WBCA, we could not be more honored to have a role in recognizing truly deserving young athletes who encourage all of us to make a positive impact on those around us.”
The Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams have made it their mission to protect the integrity of the sport by highlighting the “good works’” that occur after the final buzzer. In addition to being college athletes and full-time students, these 20 young men and women have dedicated their invaluable free time to making a difference in the world around them. They each boast a long list of remarkable accolades that serve to inspire fans and communities across the nation.
| 2015 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division I | |||
| Kyndal Clark | Sr. | G | Drake |
| Alex Cohen | Sr. | F/C | Northwestern |
| Bria Goss | Sr. | G | Kentucky |
| Stephanie Leon | Sr. | C | Delaware |
| Devon Roeper | Soph. | F | Columbia |
| Division II, III and NAIA | |||
| Kathryn Clark | Jr. | G | Johns Hopkins |
| Jasmine DeBerry | Sr. | G | Wingate |
| Megan Whittaker | Sr. | G | Loyola |
| Shanteona Keys | Sr. | G/F | Georgia College |
| Lea Sobieraski | Sr. | F | SUNY Geneseo |
“The WBCA is extremely excited to continue its partnership with Allstate in showing appreciation for these student-athletes who take time to invest in and further their respective communities,” WBCA executive director Danielle Donehew said. “Congratulations to these outstanding 10 student-athletes who have helped make a difference and will continue to be leaders on and off the basketball court.”
Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2015 NABC Convention and 2015 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis, where they will participate in a community project benefitting the host city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team will be recognized during the 2015 WBCA Convention and at the 2015 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida, and also will participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.
“The NABC is proud to partner with Allstate as we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the men and women selected for the 2015 Good Works Teams,” said Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC. “This group represents the best of the best of more than 250 student-athletes nominated this year. Each has made significant contributions to improve the quality of life in our world today.”
In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Alana Beard (Duke); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech) and Nell Fortner (Auburn); current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State); and media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O’Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX).
Since 2008, Allstate has worked with the American Football Coaches Association as sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which shines a spotlight on the positive, off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities. Through an arrangement with the AFCA, NABC and WBCA, Allstate is able to expand the Good Works Team to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to making a difference off the court.
