From left, 2012-13 Hope College basketball players Josh Holwerda, Chris Ray and Billy Seiler

Three players from the 2012-13 Hope College men’s basketball team have received recognition from the National Association of Basketball Coaches for their efforts in the classroom.

Seniors Josh Holwerda of Gallup, N.M. (Rehoboth Christian HS), Chris Ray of Fort Wayne, Ind., (Homestead HS) and Billy Seiler of Chillicotte, Ill., (Valley Central HS) made the NABC Honors Court announced today.

The NABC Honors Court recognized collegiate student-athletes who excelled in academics during the 2012-13 season. In order to be named to the NABC Honors Court, student-athletes must be a varsity player, a senior or junior, hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the academic year, be enrolled at their current college for at least one year and a member of an NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA Division I or II institution.

Holwerda, Ray and Seiler were named to the NABC Honors Court as juniors as well.

“The three young men on the Honors Court are truly student-athletes,” Hope men’s basketball coach Matt Neil said. “The fact that they are repeat members of this group shows their dedication to excellence in the classroom and beyond. They have modeled for our entire program the need to perform in the classroom as well as on the court, which is exactly why they will be very successful."

Holwerda is a double major in business management and accounting. Ray is a business management major. Seiler is an exercise science major. 

Holwerda, Ray and Seiler also were each named to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Academic Honor Roll for maintaining a minimum 3.5 GPA during the 2012-13 school year.