INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company announced today the 251 nominees for the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^®, that includes Wagner College men's basketball sophomore forward Greg Senat (Elmont, NY/Elmont). This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities.
 
Senat is one of two student-athletes who hail from Northeast Conference institutions that were nominated, along with Mustaafa Jones of Fairleigh Dickinson. 

College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism. From the 158 NABC nominees and 93 WBCA nominees, distinguished voting panels will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA^® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.
 
"The accomplishments of student-athletes extend far beyond successes achieved on the court, and Allstate is proud to recognize this exceptional group of young men and women for the positive impact they are making in their communities," said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2015 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® selection panels. "Their stories of powerful and selfless acts, shared by SIDs and coaches across the nation, represent the best of collegiate student-athletes and serve as an inspiration to us all."
 
At 6-8, 240 pounds, Senat is an intimidating physical presence, which helps make him a valuable contributor to the Seahawks on the basketball court. His unselfish nature and willingness to give, off the court, however, makes him a perfect candidate for the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team.
 
Within the community, Senat assists current Wagner men's assistant coach, Scott Smith, in a program called Lifestyles, which is run twice a year and teaches young athletes (ages seventh grade and under) basketball skills and drills. He will also be volunteered on Saturday, October 25, at First Book, a program in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers, that distribute some 40,000 books to school children. 
 
Senat  also serves as a mentor at the Port Richmond Partnership Leadership Academy, which was established by Samantha Siegel, Wagner College's Center for Leadership & Community Engagement Director. A five-week program which aims to enrich Port Richmond High School rising juniors, the Port Richmond Leadership Academy is a unique program designed to deepen participants' academic abilities as well as develop community capacity, building skills to affect positive change locally. In addition to being a mentor, Greg oversees the Port Richmond Leadership Academy Facebook Page and was recently featured on the school's You Tube page


 
In conjunction with the United States Coast Guard, Senat has also participated in Kids on Base, a program designed to teach children of those that serve in our nation's Armed Forces basic basketball fundamentals and skills.  These children are part of the Fort Wadsworth Community of Staten Island ,with the program taking place several weekends each semester.
 
After his basketball career and academic obligations are fulfilled, Greg envisions himself one day working for the Peace Corps.
 
"I would like to work in different countries and make a difference," he says.
 
For the third year, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® help spotlight the off-the-court good works and service to others that often goes unnoticed and unrewarded. From creating organizations benefitting at-risk youth to volunteering overseas to help impoverished communities, there are countless remarkable stories of service among this year's group of nominees. As full-time students and athletes, these players choose to dedicate their limited free time to improving the lives of those around them.
 
"The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^® is a prominent award that honors those student-athletes who serve the community," said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA.  "We celebrate the commitment these 93 nominees have made to their respective communities and we are grateful to Allstate for recognizing these individuals for their exceptional efforts." 
 
Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2015 NABC Convention and 2015 NCAA Men's Final Four^® in Indianapolis, where they will participate in a community project benefitting the host city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^® will be recognized during the 2015 WBCA Convention and at the 2015 NCAA Women's Final Four^® in Tampa Bay, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.
 
"In this third year of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® program, we had an overwhelming response with 158 nominations for 2015," said NABC Executive Director Jim Haney. "There are so many young men and women in college basketball today who make extraordinary and selfless contributions locally, nationally and globally. This is a tremendous opportunity to not only recognize the best of the best but honor all of these student-athletes for their achievements away from the court."
 
Former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill will headline the Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® voting panel, while WNBA basketball star Tamika Catchings, who played at the University of Tennessee, will serve on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^® panel. In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Greg Anthony (UNLV), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Alana Beard (Duke); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech) and Nell Fortner (Auburn); current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State); and media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX).
 
Since 2008, Allstate has worked with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®, which shines a spotlight on the positive, off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities. Through an arrangement with the AFCA, NABC and WBCA, Allstate has been able to expand the Good Works Team^® to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to make a difference off the court.
 
More information about the Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® and the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^® is available at www.nabc.org and www.wbca.org.
 
The following student-athletes have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team^®:
 
NCAA Division I

American University – Darius "Pee Wee" Gardner
Appalachian State University – Michael Obacha
Arizona State University – Sai Tummala
Auburn University – KT Harrell
Belmont University – Reece Chamberlain
Brigham Young University – Tyler Haws
Central Michigan University – Chris Fowler
College of Charleston – Canyon Barry
Creighton University – Austin Chatman
Duke University – Marshall Plumlee
East Carolina University – Caleb White
Eastern Kentucky University – Deverin Muff
Fairleigh Dickinson University – Mustafaa Jones
Florida State University – Aaron Thomas
Fordham University – Bryan Smith
Fresno State University – Alex Davis
George Mason University – Marko Gujanicic
Georgia State University – R.J. Hunter
Georgetown University – Jabril Trawick
Gonzaga University – Kevin Pangos
Hofstra University – Dion Nesmith
Illinois State University – Bobby Hunter
Indiana State University – Justin Gant
Iowa State University – Georges Niang
Kansas State University – Brian Rohleder
Marist College – Tourron Whitfield
McNeese State University – Kevin Hardy
Mercer University – Darious Moten
Michigan State University – Travis Trice
Middle Tennessee State University – Jacquez Rozier
Morgan State University – Blake Bozeman
North Carolina Central University – Karamo Jawara
North Carolina State University – Ralston Turner
Northwestern University – Tre Demps
Oakland University – Corey Petros
Penn State University – Kevin Montminy
Quinnipiac University – Zaid Hearst
Rice University – Max Guercy
Rider University – Emerson Bursis
Saint Joseph's University – Chris Wilson
Sam Houston State University – DeMarcus Gatlin
Santa Clara University – Dominic Romeo
Siena College – Brett Bisping
Stanford University – Chasson Randle
Stephen F. Austin State University – Jacob Parker
Stony Brook University – Rayshaun McGrew
Syracuse University – Rakeem Christmas
Texas A&M University – Jordan Green
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi – Cole Martinez
Texas Tech University – Clark Lammert
The Citadel – Quinton Marshall
THE Ohio State University – Shannon Scott
University of California, Los Angeles– Norman Powell
University of Arizona – T.J. McConnell
University of California, Berkeley – David Kravish
University of California-Irvine – Mamadou Ndiaye
University of Colorado – Josh Scott
University of Denver – Brett Olson
University of Georgia – Marcus Thornton
University of Houston – Mikhail McLean
University of Iowa – Aaron White
University of Maryland-Eastern Shore – Ishaq Pitt
University of Memphis – Shaq Goodwin
University of Nebraska – Shavon Shields
University of Nebraska-Omaha – Kyler Erickson
University of North Carolina – Marcus Paige
University of North Carolina-Asheville – Corey Littlejohn
University of North Carolina-Wilmington – Cedrick Williams
University of Northern Colorado – Cody McDavis
University of Northern Iowa – Max Martino
University of Notre Dame – Pat Connaughton
University of Pittsburgh – Cameron Wright
University of Richmond – Kendall Anthony
University of San Diego – Johnny Dee
University of South Carolina – Michael Carrera
University of South Carolina Upstate – Ty Greene
University of South Dakota – Brandon Bos
University of Tennessee – Josh Richardson
University of Texas – Tarale Murry
University of the Pacific – T.J. Wallace
University of Toledo – Justin Drummond
University of Utah – Brandon Taylor
University of Virginia – Malcolm Brogdon
University of Wisconsin – Josh Gasser
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Matt Tiby
U.S. Naval Academy (Navy) – Kevin Alter
Utah State University – Sean Harris
Valparaiso University – Alec Peters
Vanderbilt University – James Siakam
Villanova University – Ryan Arcidiacono
Wagner College – Greg Senat
Wake Forest University – Aaron Rountree III
West Virginia University – Juwan Staten
Wofford College – Jeremiah Tate
Wright State University – Kendall Griffin
Xavier University – Matt Stainbrook
Yale University – Javier Duren

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