Men's Basketball | 6/10/2025 9:59:51 AM
Luke Insley of the Nazareth University men’s basketball team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Male Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, based on a vote by the conference Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs). The award honors a male student-athlete who best exemplify what it means to be a dedicated scholar and athlete over the course of their collegiate careers.
A 2024-25 All-Empire 8 First Team selection and two-time United States Basketball Writers Association Rochester Area First Team pick, Insley helped lead the Golden Flyers to a 57-24 record and two trips to the Empire 8 Championship game in his three seasons played. In addition, Insley led the nation (Divisions I, II and III) in assist-to-turnover ratio with an impressive 6.75:1 ratio in 2023-24 and was second in the nation in assists per game (6.5). In 2024-25, Insley was second in Division III, averaging 6.7 assists per game, while scoring 10.8 points per game, a career best.
Insley, a point guard, played 79 in games over three seasons for the Golden Flyers, averaging 8.3 points, 5.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor and 76.7 percent from the foul line. He had a remarkable career 4.99-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
In 2025, Insley won Nazareth’s prestigious Jeff Van Gundy Award. Named for former Nazareth basketball standout and Sports Hall of Famer Jeff Van Gundy, who was renowned for his work ethic and passion for his team and for his school. The award recognizes those characteristics as well commitment to Nazareth athletics in and out of season.
“Luke exemplifies what it means to be a true student-athlete,” said Nazareth men’s basketball head coach Kevin Broderick. “I am most impressed by Luke’s consistency, work ethic, and leadership. He is always the fittest player in our program, thanks to his year-round commitment to conditioning. Luke is a prominent campus leader, actively involved as a SAAC representative for two years. He is always one of the first to volunteer for community service projects and is genuinely concerned about the well-being of his teammates and classmates.”
A native of Webster, NY, Insley earned his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Nazareth, while carrying a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average. Insley was an eight-time member of the Empire 8 President's List for student-athletes with GPAs of 3.75 and a two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Men’s Basketball Academic All-District selection in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. In addition, Insley won the 2023-24 Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Torchbearer Award for academic excellence.
“Luke embodies the true student-athlete and has done so at such a high level,” said Joe Venniro, Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner. “He has emerged as one of the best true point guards in the nation over the last few seasons. In addition, what Luke has accomplished in the classroom, with an incredibly demanding major, while emerging as a leader of the Nazareth University SAAC and campus community is truly remarkable.”
In addition, Insley served in a variety of community service roles in his four years at Nazareth, serving as a two-year member of Nazareth’s SAAC, while volunteering with Nazareth’s LifePrep program for students with intellectual disabilities. He also served as a referee for Special Olympics Basketball at Nazareth in 2023 and 2024, volunteered at Brighton Food Pantry and helped deliver Thanksgiving meals to local pantries.
“Beyond his measurable achievements, what truly distinguishes Luke is his character,” said Michael Huson, Clinical Associate Professor at Nazareth. “He is a natural leader focused, humble, and driven to help others. In the classroom, he sets a high standard for himself and his peers. His effort and maturity are evident in everything he does, and he balances the intense demands of a doctoral program and collegiate athletics with remarkable grace and perseverance.”
2024-25 Empire 8 Male Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year Finalists
Will LaMastus, Alfred University – Swimming and Diving
Ryan Trenholm, Elmira College – Baseball
Adam Harris, SUNY Geneseo – Ice Hockey
Garrett Frost, Hartwick College – Lacrosse
Graham Cook, Houghton University – Tennis
Luke Insley, Nazareth University – Basketball
LaMarqus Merchant Jr., SUNY Poly – Basketball
Kaiden Simpson, Russell Sage College – Track and Field
Brady Mason, St. John Fisher University – Lacrosse
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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