Lincoln – Five University of Nebraska men’s basketball players were honored Wednesday, as the Big Ten Conference announced its Winter Academic All-Big Ten teams.

Nick Fuller, Kye Kurkowski, Trevor Menke, Shavon Shields and Leslee Smith were among the 32 men’s basketball players from around the conference recognized this afternoon. Nebraska’s five selections led the Big Ten and marked the second straight year that Nebraska has been first or second in Academic All-Big Ten honorees.

It is the fourth consecutive season that both Kurkowski and Menke earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, while Shields, who also earned first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors this winter, is being recognized for the third straight season.  Of the three Husker seniors being honored, both Menke and Kurkowski have received their undergraduate degrees, while Smith is on track to graduate in May.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Under Coach Tim Miles, Nebraska has had 12 Academic All-Big Ten selections over the past three seasons.

The conference office also awards Academic All-Big Ten distinction in the fall and spring seasons and will present the Distinguished Scholar Award at the end of the academic year. Student-athletes eligible for the Distinguished Scholar Award must be letterwinners in at least their second year in residence at their institution. Qualifying student-athletes must have earned a GPA of 3.7 or higher for the current academic year, excluding summer school. The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award was established by conference Faculty Representatives as an addition to the conference’s Academic All-Big Ten program.