SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball program continued to excel both on the court and in the classroom during the 2025-26 academic year, as three Mustangs were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court while the program also earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award.
Junior Judah Casaus (Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte High School), senior Nathan Jones (Leicester, United Kingdom), and junior Tanner Poeschl (Fountain Hills, AZ/Skyline High School) were each recognized on the 2025-26 NABC Honors Court, an award presented to junior, senior, and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the academic year with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher.
In addition to the individual honors, Western New Mexico was one of more than 400 programs across all levels of college basketball to receive the 2025-26 NABC Team Academic Excellence Award. The award recognizes programs that achieved a team GPA of 3.0 or higher during the academic year.
The recognition highlights the Mustangs' commitment to excellence beyond competition, reflecting the dedication and discipline displayed by the program in the classroom.
"College basketball student-athletes do incredible things on the court, but their achievements in the classroom are equally worthy of celebration," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "Education is one of the NABC's core values, and the hundreds of programs and thousands of athletes represented on these awards reinforce the commitment to academic success that exists across all levels of our sport."
More than 2,300 student-athletes from colleges and universities across the country earned NABC Honors Court recognition during the 2025-26 academic year, highlighting academic achievement throughout collegiate men's basketball.
The NABC annually recognizes outstanding academic achievement by both teams and individual student-athletes at every level of college basketball through its Team Academic Excellence Awards and Honors Court program.
***
Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).
