Men's Basketball | 3/25/2026 10:00:00 AM
Twenty-two Empire 8 Student-Athletes from nine different institutions were selected to the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Men’s Basketball NCAA Division III Team, which recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Men's Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced April 14, 2026.
Below are the Empire 8 CSC Academic All-District® team selections.
ALFRED UNIVERSITY
Nolan GIlbert Jr., F, Mechanicsburg, PA - Renewable Energy Engineering
Gennaro Picco, G, So., Hornell, NY - Biology
Franyls Valenzuela, Sr., F, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic - Computer Science/Finance
SUNY GENESEO
*Josh Garelle Jr., G/F, Rockville Centre, NY - History Education
Robert Pericolosi, Jr., G/F, Rockville Centre, NY
HARTWICK COLLEGE
Mike Gitz, Jr., G, Commack, NY
Malachi Polson, Jr., G, Bay Shore, NY
KEUKA COLLEGE
Ty LaBarge, Jr., G, Cobleskill, NY - Management: Sports Management
Quinn VanKerkhove, So., G, Irondequoit, NY - Management: Sports Management
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY
Luke Insley, Gr., G, Webster, NY - Physical Therapy
Zachary McFarland, Sr., G, Long Valley, NY - Physical Therapy
Tyler Putney, Gr., F, Fredonia, NY - Finance
*Jaylen Savage, Sr., G, Elmsford, NY - Ethical Data Science
SUNY POLY
Brian Bonin, Gr., G, Cicero, NY - MBA
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE
Ben Aprilante, Sr., F, Fort Montgomery, NY - Sport and Recreation Management
Sidney Lebonzo, Gr., F, Montgomery Village, MD - Sport Science: Coaching and Mental Performance
*Pape Tunkara, Jr., G, Mount Vernon, NY - Sport and Recreation Management
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY
Louis Fay, Sr., F, Wellesley, MA - Finance
Jonathan McCaffrey, Jr., G, Webster, NY - Business Management
Max Schneider, Sr., G, Williamsville, NY - Marketing
UTICA UNIVERSITY
Ryan McCardle, Sr., G, Hurley, NY - Physical Education
Benjamin Wittman, Sr., F, Sherrill, NY - Physical Therapy
* CSC Academic All-America ® Finalists
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office member.