KALAMAZOO -- The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced today that Western Michigan guard David Kool has been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Men's Basketball Third Team.
The junior from Grand Rapids, Mich., has a 3.38 grade point average majoring in physical education as he becomes the sixth Western Michigan men's basketball Academic All-American (Bill Vanderwoude 1970 & 1971; John Sperla 1971; Jim Kurzen 1976; Sean Wightman 1991 & 1993; Joe Reitz 2007 & 2008). This is also the third season in a row that Western Michigan has produced an Academic All-America. That has only happened two other times in Mid-American Conference history (Toledo 1976-78; Miami 1991-93). Kool is the only MAC representative on this season's team.
Kool is one of the leading contenders for MAC Player of the Year as he ranks second in free throw percentage (.877) and scoring (17.3), fifth in three-pointers made (2.08), 13th in steals (1.46) and 14th in defensive rebounds (3.65) in the MAC. He has scored 20 points or more in nine games and 10 or more in 24-of-26 contests, including 17 in a row at one point. He also chips in 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and leads the team with 38 steals.
In MAC play, Kool averages 16.9 points (second in the league), 5.6 rebounds (12th), 1.67 steals (sixth) and 1.83 assists per game. He also hits .905 from the free throw line in MAC play.
Furthermore, Kool ranks among the career leaders at WMU in free throw percentage (.879 1st), free throws made (356 5th), three-pointers made (164 6th) and points (1,302 8th).
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games and no student-athlete is eligible until he/she has completed one full calendar year at his/her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
University Division Academic All-America of the Year: Brett Winkelman, North Dakota State
FIRST TEAM University Division
Alex Ruoff WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY II Sr. Spring Hill, Fla. 3.79 History
Brett Winkelman NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY VII Sr. Morris, Minn. 3.88 Industrial Engineering and Management
Aaron Linn GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY III Sr. Lenexa, Kan. 4.0 Finance
Jason Holsinger EVANSVILLE, UNIVERSITY OF V Sr. Lapel, Ind. 3.89 Economics
Bryan Mullins SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY V Sr. Downers Grove, Ill. 4.0 Fiinance
SECOND TEAM University Division
Ryan Schneider MARIST COLLEGE I Sr. Yorktown Heights, N.Y. 3.72 Communications/Sports Communications
Yves Mekongo Mbala LA SALLE UNIVERSITY II Jr. Elizabeth, N.J. 3.82 Integrated Science, Business & Techology
Mike Schachtner WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY, UNIVERSITY OF V Sr. Somerset, Wis. 3.81 Psychology
Jimmy Baron RHODE ISLAND, UNIVERSITY OF I Sr. E. Greenwich, R.I. 3.42 Communications
Matt Howard BUTLER UNIVERSITY V So. Connersville, Ind. 3.72 Finance
THIRD TEAM University Division
Greg Paulus DUKE UNIVERSITY III Sr. Syracuse, N.Y. 3.35 Political Science
Kevin Lisch SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY VII Gr. Belleville, Ill. 3.48, 4.0 (grad) Business Administration - MBA
David Kool WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY IV Jr. Grand Rapids, Mich. 3.38 Physical Education
Andy Wicke BELMONT UNIVERSITY IV Sr. Hendersonville, Tenn. 3.74 Environmental Studies
Patrick Foley COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY I Jr. Blue Point, NY 3.81 Political Science
