GREENWOOD, Ind. -- A trio of University of St. Francis men's basketball players have been named to the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Men's Basketball Team, it has been announced by the CSC organization.  Earning the recognition for USF were graduate senior Aitor Anabitarte, senior Ben Faatz and sophomore Nick Niego.

The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.  To be eligible, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore both athletically and academically and boast no less than a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, while performing at an elite athletic level.  Academic all-district honorees are considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot.

Anabitarte, who sat out last season as a Saint due to injury, returned to lead the team in the vast majority of statistical categories, including total points (501), field goal percentage (.576), free throws made (165), free throw percentage (.838), total rebounds (264), blocks (26) and steals (27) this past winter, while averaging a team-best 16.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game from his forward position.  He started all 31 of the team's games.

In the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), Anabitarte ranked among the top eight players in six departments topped by his No. 1 placement in free throws made and No. 2 recording in rebounds per game.  He also finished the season ranked third in field goal percentage, fourth in free throw percentage and total points and eighth in blocked shots.

A second-team all-conference selection in 2023 and a first-team choice this past winter, Anabitarte was named the CCAC Player of the Week on three separate occasions (one offensive, two defensive) during the 2024-25 season.

Currently pursuing a Master's in Business Administration, Anabitarte has turned in a perfect 4.00 grade point average in all nine of his semesters at St. Francis and previously obtained his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Mathematics.  He is both a four-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete and CCAC all-academic selection.

A two-year member of the St. Francis program, Faatz appeared in all 31 games during the 2024-25 season with three of those being starts.  This past winter, he averaged 4.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest from his center position, while also totaling 32 assists and 18 steals.  He finished tied for second on the club in blocked shots with 19.

The award comes on top of Faatz claiming NAIA Scholar-Athlete and CCAC All-Academic recognition.  A Psychology major, he is a Dean's List recipient in each of his three semesters at the university and has maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA.

Niego, the team's runner-up in three-pointers made (46), joined Faatz in earning the CSC praise for the first time.  Like the other two recipients, Niego also boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA, while being a first-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete and CCAC All-Academic performer.  He has been named to the Dean's List in each of his three semesters as a Supply Chain Management major.

Niego appeared in all 31 games for the Saints during the 2024-25 season, while securing an average of 5.6 points per game.  The sophomore guard sat second on the team in three-pointers made per game (1.5), while authoring a .377 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes basketball honorees in four divisions – NCAA I, II and III and NAIA.  First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced later this month.

USF finished 16-4 in conference play and 25-6 overall and advanced to the NAIA Opening Round Winona Lake Bracket after capturing the CCAC regular-season and tournament titles.

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