VALDOSTA, Ga. - Valdosta State men's basketball student-athletes Blaise Wallace, Ethan Pires, and Michael Batchelor have been named to the 2025-26 NABC Honors Court, recognizing their outstanding academic achievements while representing the Blazers on the court. The annual honor is presented by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to student-athletes who excel in the classroom while competing at the collegiate level.
 
The NABC Honors Court, includes junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the 2025-26 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.  The NABC's academic awards are presented annually to teams and athletes from all levels of college basketball.
 
"College basketball student-athletes do incredible things on the court, but their achievements in the classroom are equally worthy of celebration," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "Education is one of the NABC's core values, and the hundreds of programs and thousands of athletes represented on these awards reinforce the commitment to academic success that exists across all levels of our sport."
 
Wallace, a rising senior, was one of the Blazers' most productive players during the 2025-26 campaign, starting 26 of 29 games and averaging 13.9 points and a team-leading 9.3 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per contest. He shot 53.9 percent from the field and 70.6 percent from the free-throw line while totaling 403 points, 269 rebounds, 47 assists, 32 steals, and 13 blocks. Wallace posted a season-high 25 points against Mississippi College on Feb. 14 and pulled down a season-best 19 rebounds against Edward Waters. He also recorded season highs of four assists, two blocks, and three steals, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor.
 
Pires, who finished his eligibility with the Blazers in 2025-26, provided valuable scoring and perimeter shooting off the bench, appearing in 26 games and averaging 3.7 points in 10.2 minutes per game. He shot 42.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc while making 18 three-pointers during the season. Pires turned in his best offensive performance with a season-high 22 points against Florida Tech on Nov. 16, while connecting on a season-best six three-pointers against Union (Tenn.) on Feb. 21. He also grabbed a season-high seven rebounds against Baptist (Fla.) and added a pair of assists against Union.
 
Batchelor who also finished his eligibility this past season, appeared in all 29 games, making three starts while serving as one of Valdosta State's top perimeter threats. He averaged 4.0 points in 12.9 minutes per game, shooting 36.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point range while knocking down 28 three-pointers. Batchelor finished the season with 116 points, 23 assists, and nine steals, highlighted by a season-high 22-point performance against Baptist (Fla.) on Dec. 8, when he shot 7-of-11 from the floor and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also set season highs of 29 minutes, three rebounds, three assists, and one block against Delta State on Feb. 12.
 
The recognition of Wallace, Pires, and Batchelor on the 2025-26 NABC Honors Court underscores Valdosta State's commitment to excellence in both athletics and academics, as the trio balanced success on the hardwood with outstanding achievement in the classroom.
 
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