Complete NABC Honors Court
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) today announced the 2016-17 NABC Honors Court, recognizing those men's collegiate basketball student-athletes who excelled in academics during the past season. Delta State University placed three Statesmen on the Honors Court led by senior James Kilpatrick and juniors John Cornish and Cedric Harper. The trio helped lead Delta State to a 23-9 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament.
The NABC Honors Court recognizes the talents and gifts that these men possess off the court and the hard work they exhibit in the classroom.
In order to be named to the Honors Court, a student-athlete must meet a high standard of academic criteria. The qualifications are as follows:
1. Academically a junior or senior and a varsity player.
2. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic year.
3. Students must have matriculated at least one year at their current institution.
4. Member of a NCAA Division I, II, III, or NAIA Division I or II institution with a NABC member coach.
Kilpatrick, a Memphis, Tenn., native, averaged 8.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in his 31 starts for the Statesmen this past season. The 6-foot-3 guard, who majored in sports management, shot 50 percent (102-of-204) from the field and 52.9 percent (55-of-104) from the charity stripe, while totaling 468 career points for the Green-and-White. He scored a career-high 20 points against LeMoyne-Owen (11.22.16) and had a career-high 17 boards against Union (12.31.16).
Cornish, a junior from Olive Branch, Miss., played in all 32 games for the Statesmen while starting in 16 contests. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 5.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game, while shooting 40 percent (49-of-123) from the floor and 83 percent (24-of-29) from the free throw line. He scored a career-high 18 points against North Alabama (1.28.17) and had a career-high eight rebounds against Alabama Huntsville (1.26.17). He is majoring in accounting.
Harper, a Tallahassee, Fla., native, started in 29 games for the Statesmen, while playing in all 32 contests. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as a junior, while shooting 74 percent (95-of-129) from the field. He scored the game-winning dunk as time expired at Christian Brothers to seal a 65-64 victory on Jan. 2, 2016, and boasted a career-high 22 points in the victory at West Alabama (2.23.17). He also recorded a career-high 15 rebounds against Valdosta State (2.4.17). He is majoring in sports management.
