Seniors Steven Bennett and Trey Pettus were recognized among those men's collegiate basketball student-athletes who excelled in academics during the past season by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The NABC announced its 2016-17 NABC Honors Court on Tuesday, July 18.

It is the second consecutive season that both Bennett and Pettus have been among the honorees.

In order to be named to the Honors Court, a student-athlete must meet a high standard of academic criteria. The qualifications are as follows:
1. Academically a junior or senior and a varsity player.
2. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic year.
3. Students must have matriculated at least one year at their current institution.
4. Member of a NCAA Division I, II, III, or NAIA Division I or II institution with a NABC member coach.
 
Bennett graduated in May with degrees in Chemistry and Organizational Communication & Leadership. He will begin medical school in the fall. Pettus graduated with a degree in Actuarial Science and has begun work for a firm in his hometown of St. Louis.
 
Last week, Butler was among the men's basketball programs honored with Team Academic Excellence Awards by the NABC. These awards, created by the NABC Committee on Academics, recognize outstanding academic achievement by a team with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better for the 2016-17 season.