We’re running out of words to write when it comes to Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place), so we’ll get straight to the point: He’s an Academic All-American.

The Valparaiso University men’s basketball star was tabbed to the College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America Second Team on Tuesday, receiving the high honor as one of 10 student-athletes in the country to earn a place on the first or second team. The honor is voted upon by CSC’s membership – athletics communication professionals across the nation – who consider academic and athletic credentials.

Krikke, who owns a 3.79 cumulative grade point average in finance, becomes just the second player in program history to earn Academic All-America First or Second Team honors, joining Alec Peters (2016-17). Krikke is just the fourth Academic All-American in program history, joining Peters and a pair of third team honorees – Dan Oppland (2004-05) and Joel Oberman (1972-73).

This marked Krikke’s second award of the day as earlier on Tuesday he was tabbed to the NABC All-District Second Team for District 16.

Krikke, the Missouri Valley Conference leader in scoring both overall (19.4 points per game) and in league play (21.0 ppg), pulled down 5.9 rebounds per game, shot 55.2 percent from the field and hit at a 79.6 percent clip from the free-throw line. Krikke was named to the All-MVC First Team, MVC Most-Improved Team and MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, the only player in the conference to earn all three honors.

In addition to scoring, Krikke ranked among the league leaders in rebounding (11^th), field-goal percentage (second), free-throw percentage (10^th), blocked shots (ninth), offensive rebounding (ninth) and minutes played (second). He scored 622 points during the season – the sixth most in a single season in program history – and had 244 made field goals – the fourth most in program history and the most by a Valpo player since 1971-72.

The Edmonton native finished the season with 1,596 points, seventh on the program’s all-time scoring list. He closed the campaign with a career field-goal percentage of 54.1, the sixth highest in program history. In addition, Krikke wrapped up the season with 632 career made field goals, a total that ranks sixth in Valpo lore.

Krikke became just the third Missouri Valley Conference player since 2005 to average at least 17 points and five boards while shooting better than 75 percent from the line and 50 percent from the field, joining Missouri State’s Isiaih Mosley and Creighton’s Doug McDermott. He scored in double figures in 30 of his 32 games including 13 outputs of 20 points or more and 26 games with 15 points or more. He finished the season with 20 consecutive double-figure scoring outputs and was in double figures in all 20 league games.

Krikke was also named the MVC Player of the Week on Jan. 30 and Feb. 20.

NCAA DIVISION I

Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year:

Ben Vander Plas, University of Virginia

FIRST TEAM

Name School Yr. GPA Major

Dalton Bolon College of Charleston Gr. 4.00/3.83 Biology (UG) / Biology (G) / Communication (G)

Matt Dentlinger (2, 6) South Dakota State University Gr. 3.99/4.00 Mechanical Engineering (UG) / Electrical Eng. (G)

Marcus Domask Southern Illinois University Sr. 3.99 Sport Administration

JT Shumate (1) University of Toledo Sr. 3.84 Middle Childhood Education

Kahliel Spear (2) Robert Morris University Sr. 3.91 Economics

Ben Vander Plas (1, 5) University of Virginia Gr. 3.99/4.00 Communication Studies (UG) / Sports Admin &

 Mgmt. (G) / Professional Learner at UVA

SECOND TEAM

Name School Yr. GPA Major

Kobe Brown University of Missouri Sr. 3.59 General Studies

Alex Gross Morehead State University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Sport Management

Ben Krikke Valparaiso University Sr. 3.79 Finance

Chris Ledlum (3) Harvard University Sr. 3.55 Sociology

THIRD TEAM

Name School Yr. GPA Major

Brandon Angel Stanford University Jr. 3.97 Economics

Josh Bannan (3) University of Montana Jr. 3.92 Economics

Tanner Groves (1) University of Oklahoma Gr. 3.89/4.00 Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Michael Jones Stanford University Gr. 3.90 M.S. Statistics

Hunter Tyson Clemson University Gr. 3.55/3.90 Sports Communications (UG) / Athletic Leadership (G)

(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2021-22

(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2021-22

(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2021-22

(4) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2020-21

(5) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21

(6) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2020-21