University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Kevin Vannatta Chosen DI-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete of the Year
04.11.2018 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville men's basketball senior guard Kevin Vannatta has been chosen as the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
For the second straight season, Vannatta was also selected to the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar-Athlete Team presented by ARMS Software.
The honor is the latest for the senior standout who was also recently selected to the 2017-18 Academic All-America® NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
"On behalf of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards as well as those who have earned a postgraduate scholarship," stated Tim Hall, current Division I-AAA ADA President and Athletics Director at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). "Our association prides itself in honoring student-athletes who model success both in the classroom and in their sport. These recipients are proof that student-athletes have the ability to devote their time to their studies and still perform at the highest level of collegiate athletics."
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees was required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.20 - on a 4.00 scale - in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent (50%) of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, he/she must have reached junior academic standing at their institution (ineligible athletics transfers are NOT eligible).
The 2017-18 Big South Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Vannatta as an Accounting major at UNC Asheville presently owns a 3.93 grade-point average.
Vannatta represents UNC Asheville and the Big South Conference on the NCAA Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Vannatta was also named to the 2016-17 and 2017-18 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District® 3 Men's Basketball first-team in addition to being tabbed as a DI-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He was also an official candidate for the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award.
Vannatta ended his prolific career with UNC Asheville with the most minutes played in program history (4,165) and tied for the most games played in program history (130). The Academic All-American finished his career with 1,243 points, 574 rebounds and 378 assists.
Men's Scholar-Athlete Team
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Kevin Vannatta, UNC Asheville
For the second straight season, Vannatta was also selected to the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar-Athlete Team presented by ARMS Software.
The honor is the latest for the senior standout who was also recently selected to the 2017-18 Academic All-America® NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
"On behalf of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards as well as those who have earned a postgraduate scholarship," stated Tim Hall, current Division I-AAA ADA President and Athletics Director at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). "Our association prides itself in honoring student-athletes who model success both in the classroom and in their sport. These recipients are proof that student-athletes have the ability to devote their time to their studies and still perform at the highest level of collegiate athletics."
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees was required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.20 - on a 4.00 scale - in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent (50%) of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, he/she must have reached junior academic standing at their institution (ineligible athletics transfers are NOT eligible).
The 2017-18 Big South Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Vannatta as an Accounting major at UNC Asheville presently owns a 3.93 grade-point average.
Vannatta represents UNC Asheville and the Big South Conference on the NCAA Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Vannatta was also named to the 2016-17 and 2017-18 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District® 3 Men's Basketball first-team in addition to being tabbed as a DI-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He was also an official candidate for the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award.
Vannatta ended his prolific career with UNC Asheville with the most minutes played in program history (4,165) and tied for the most games played in program history (130). The Academic All-American finished his career with 1,243 points, 574 rebounds and 378 assists.
Men's Scholar-Athlete Team
| Name | Institution | GPA | Major |
| Evan Bailey | College of Charleston | 3.74 | Chemistry |
| Clayton Cluster | Loyola University Chicago | 3.52 | Finance |
| Rokas Gustys | Hofstra University | 3.67 | Rhetorical Studies |
| Albert Owens | Oral Roberts University | 3.76 | History |
| Josh Perkins | Gonzaga University | 3.26 | Sport Management |
| Ben Richardson | Loyola University Chicago | 3.41 | Finance |
| Joseph Sherburne | UMBC | 4.00 | Financial Economics |
| Kareem South | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 3.53 | Biomedical Science |
| Kevin Vannatta | UNC Asheville | 3.93 | Accounting |
| Reilly Walsh | NJIT | 4.00 | Management Information Systems |
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Kevin Vannatta, UNC Asheville
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballMonday, March 18
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