SPOKANE, Wash. – Six Whitworth University basketball players have earned inclusion on the 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men's Women's NCAA Division III Basketball teams, according to the official list released today by the College Sports Communicators.
The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Student-athletes must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher through the final full academic term and must be a starter or key reserve on the team.
Mya Bair and Ashlyn Neilsen made the list from Whitworth's women's team. Stephen Behil, Garrett Long, Colton Looney and Ben Nyquist represent the men's team.
Bair, a junior graphic design major from Kettle Falls, Washington, started all 25 games for the Pirate women and averaged 8.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Neilsen played in 24 of Whitworth's 25 games and made five starts. A sophomore, Neilsen is a kinesiology and education major from Odessa, Washington.
Behil, a junior wing, started all 26 of the Pirate men's games and averaged 11.5 points while making 37.5% of his three-pointers. Behil is a business management major from Camas, Washington.
Long was Whitworth's starting point guard in all 26 contests this season. The senior from Wenatchee earned first team All-Northwest Conference recognition by averaging 15.9 points and 3.5 assists per game. He is a marketing major.
Looney was the Pirates' first player off the bench, averaging 7.8 points while making 52.1% of his three-pointers in all 26 contests. A junior, Looney is a finance major from Vancouver, Washington.
Nyquist, a junior guard, became a starter midway through the season and put up 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He is a business management major from Kirkland, Washington.
