WSC Men’s Basketball Players Earn NABC Honors Court Award, Team Award

WSC Men’s Basketball Players Earn NABC Honors Court Award, Team Award
Courtesy of Wayne State Athletics.

WAYNE – An award has been given to four members of the Wayne State College men’s basketball team that highlights the talent and gifts that players possess on the court and in the classroom.

According to a release from the Wayne State Athletics office, Ben Dentlinger, Jordan Janssen, Henry Penner and Nate Thayer were recognized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) with the 2021 NABC Honors Court.

To be eligible for the NABC Honors Court, student athletes must be a junior or senior and have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

Ben Dentlinger, a senior from New London, Iowa, recorded a 3.59 grade point average majoring in biology and is a repeat selection to the NABC Honors Court. The 6’ 7” forward averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while ranking fourth in the NSIC in blocked shots per game at 1.9.

Jordan Janssen, a 6’ 7” junior forward from Lincoln (East HS), had a 3.48 grade point average majoring in economics and finance. On the court, he was voted NSIC South Division Player of the Year and NABC All-Central Region First Team after leading the Wildcats in most offensive categories averaging 16.0 points and 9.8 rebounds a contest.

Henry Penner, a 6’ 6” junior forward from Aurora, posted a 3.65 grade point average majoring in business administration.  He averaged 6.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game this season.

Nate Thayer, a 6’ 3” junior guard from Springfield (Platteview HS), maintained a 3.43 grade point average majoring in accounting and finance and accounted for 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game this season.

The Wayne State College men’s basketball team was also honored Wednesday by the National Association of Basketball Coaches with the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award. In order to receive the Team Academic Excellence Award, a program must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better during the 2020-21 season.

Wayne State posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.341 this season and was one of just six Northern Sun Conference institutions to earn the honor.  (Augustana, University of Mary, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State and Winona State).

This marks the second time in Wildcat head coach Jeff Kaminsky’s five-year tenure that Wayne State has received the award.

The Wayne State College men’s basketball team finished the 2021 shortened season with an 11-7 overall record and 10-4 mark in the NSIC South Division. The Wildcats won the NSIC South Division title for a second time in three seasons and advanced to the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament before falling to MSU Moorhead 84-72.

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