KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced Monday that 176 Division II men's basketball students-athletes have been named 2017-18 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
From Bellevue, seniors Blake Wilder (Fort Dodge, Iowa) and Nick Hilton (Sacramento, Calif.) were both honored. It was the first national award for each Wilder and Hilton.
Wilder, one of two players to start each of Bellevue's 31 games this season, averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He ranked second on the team with a field goal percentage of 57.1 and shot 82.4 percent from the free throw line, second on the team among qualified players.
Hilton, who started all 29 games in which he appeared, averaged 9.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He led the team with 63 three-pointers and an 85.5 percent free throw percentage while ranking second in both assists (62) and steals (25).
In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.
To view the entire list, click here.
To learn more about the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete Award, click here.
The Bellevue men's basketball team wrapped up the 2017-18 season with a 21-12 overall record, securing their third-straight NSAA Regular-Season Title (11-5 NSAA), and qualifying for the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the 16th-straight season.
