KANSAS CITY, Mo./CHICAGO --- Led by three-time selection Connor Casper, the University of St. Francis men's basketball team boasted nine players earning top academic honors with the announcements of both the NAIA Scholar-Athletes and Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Team for the 2025-26 season.

Joining Casper as NAIA Scholar-Athletes were Evan Hutcheson, Paolo Mondini-Branzi, Nick Niego, Merrick Small, Diego Reyes and Greyson Harrington.

Casper gained status with both awards for the third time in his career as a Saint.  The senior forward is working on his undergraduate degree in Finance.

Hutcheson, Mondini-Branzi, and Niego each earned their second recognition as NAIA Scholar-Athletes and CCAC All-Academic Team members this season in their first year of eligibility.  Niego, a junior guard, is pursuing a degree in Supply Chain Management.  Hutcheson and Mondini-Branzi, both junior forwards, are majoring in Finance.

Small, Reyes and Harrington each received their first recognition for both awards this year.  Small, a senior center, is seeking an undergraduate degree in Values-Based Management, while Reyes, a sophomore guard, is also pursuing a degree in Values-Based Management.  Harrington, a sophomore guard, is majoring in Information Technology.

A total of 659 student-athletes representing 172 schools gained NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors when they were announced by the national office on Wednesday.

In order to garner that status, nominees must be a sophomore or above in academic standing, must have been in attendance at their nominating institution for one full academic year and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher at the time of the nomination deadline.

That seven-person contingent was also part of a pair of nine Saints to claim a spot on the CCAC Men's Basketball All-Academic Team.  The other two honorees were Lorenzo Aquino and Ben Kreitz.

Aquino and Kreitz completed the list of league honorees with their second accolades.  Aquino is a junior guard majoring in Nursing.  Kreitz, a senior forward, is pursuing a degree in Marketing.

Of the 61 individuals amongst 11 total represented schools being named to the CCAC team, three turned in perfect grade point averages with two being Saints:  Mondini-Branzi and Niego.

To be nominated for the CCAC award, a student-athlete must have been enrolled at his school for a minimum of one academic year, have completed at least 30 semester hours and boast no less than a 3.25 cumulative grade point average.

For the complete CCAC awards list, go to CCAC.

For the complete NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards list, go to NAIA.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.