LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky men's basketball team was recognized Wednesday with the 2025-26 National Association of Basketball Coaches Team Academic Excellence Award, joining over 400 college basketball programs that completed the academic year with a team grade-point-average of 3.0 or higher.

Guards Walker Horn and Zach Tow were separately honored on the NABC Honors Court, which recognizes junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Both players earned the distinction for the second consecutive season before graduating in May.

Horn and Tow saw limited playing time during the 2025-26 season, appearing in seven games each. Horn made his first career basket on a 3-pointer against Tennessee Tech, while Tow converted a free throw against the same opponent and buried a 3-pointer against North Carolina Central.

The NABC's academic awards recognize achievement in the classroom across all levels of college basketball. Over 2,300 players earned spots on the NABC Honors Court for the 2025-26 academic year, representing programs' commitment to balancing athletic and academic success.

"College basketball student-athletes do incredible things on the court, but their achievements in the classroom are equally worthy of celebration," NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson said in a statement. "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."