HANCEVILLE — Wallace State’s men’s basketball team is tops in the classroom for the second consecutive year among its counterparts in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The Lions compiled a cumulative 3.60 GPA during the 2018-19 academic year, finishing with the highest GPA among all men’s basketball teams in the nation. Wallace State achieved the same feat last season, accumulating a 3.48 GPA.

Men’s basketball was among four Wallace State sports recognized this week as NJCAA honorable mention teams for earning a 3.0 GPA or better as a group.

Wallace State’s volleyball team was tops in the conference with a 3.55 GPA. Wallace State volleyball, which has won 10 straight ACCC tournament championships, is coached by Randy Daniel.

Wallace State’s softball team registered a 3.50 GPA, which was also the best mark among its conference opponents. Softball, a 12-time ACCC champion and two-time NJCAA national champion, is coached by A.J. Daugherty.

Wallace State’s baseball team, coached by Randy Putman, finished the academic year with a 3.04 GPA.

Individual NJCAA academic achievements were also unveiled this week.

Wallace State had 48 student-athletes earn NJCAA All-Academic recognition, including 15 on the NJCAA All-Academic first team with a 4.0 GPA. Volleyball had five players to make the first team and baseball had four.

Wallace State student-athletes with 4.0 GPAs and earning first-team accolades are volleyball’s Kaitlyn Doyle, Karlee Hale, Kate Kent, Maya Jones and Lexie Riggins; baseball’s Brennan McCullough, Garrett Brown, Riley Wood and Trevor Houston; softball’s Alysia Anderson and Keeli Bobbitt, men’s basketball’s Zion Williams and Griffin Morris and women’s basketball’s Jada Golden and Anna Mathis.

NJCAA All-Academic second-team members finished the academic year with a 3.99-3.80 GPA. Wallace State student-athletes in that category consisted of softball’s Callie Ryan, Chaney Phillips, Katie Burden and Sidney Edwards; volleyball’s Alex Wiggins, Jordan Hollis and Katie Edwards; Mike Johnson, Jerry Lwamba and Chris Rollins from men’s basketball; Henslee Brindlee of women’s basketball and baseball’s Ty Hill.

NJCAA All-Academic third-team members finished the academic year with a GPA between 3.79-3.60. Wallace State student-athletes earning third-team status are softball’s Hannah Ingram, Jordan McMeans, Katie Wood, Meagan Schwieterman, Morgan Weatherwax, Riley McWaters and Taylor Goodpastor; baseball’s Britt Bowling, Clark Kinard, Conner Burks, Drew Chilton and Houston Wright; men’s basketball’s Max Clark, Josh Scott, LaTrell Tate and Zion Fluellen; Channing Gafford, Miajah Bullock and Kele Nelson from women’s basketball; and McKenzie Boland and Courtlyn Barber from volleyball.