The Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (I-AAA ADA) has announced its inaugural Scholar-Athlete Teams, composed of 10 male and 10 female basketball scholar-athletes.

"All of the nominees, and particularly the winners, represent the talent and dedication of the student-athletes at Division I-AAA institutions," said Ken Kavanagh, coordinator of the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team Selection Committee and athletics director at Bradley University. "They are excellent choices to receive this annual award."

Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for the awards. Nominees must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.200 (4.000 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominees also must have reached sophomore athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution; have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution; and must have participated in 50 percent of the games played at the designated position.

One male and female student-athlete from the two teams were selected as the Division
I-AAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Kristy Loiselle, a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, earned the honor for the women's team, while the men's award went to Michael Lindeman, a junior at Creighton University.

Now in its second year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. The association is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

Here are the I-AAA ADA men's and women's teams:

Men's Scholar-Athlete Team

Greg Babcock, Wisconsin-Green Bay, public administration; Clint Cuffle, Evansville, engineering; Joshua Daniel, Texas-Arlington, public relations; Brody Deren, Creighton, exercise science; Jon Larranaga, George Mason, public administration; Michael Lindeman, Creighton, finance; Brad McKeiver, Campbell, trust management; Kevin Mitchell, Texas-Pan American, marketing; Brett Starkey, Denver, biology/pre-med; Maurice Yearwood, Long Island, finance.

Women's Scholar-Athlete Team

Sara Bailey, Bradley, psychology; Katryn Costenbader, American, psychology; Sara Esidore, Quinnipiac, computer information systems; Alexis Henderson, Xavier, communications; Sarah Kustok, DePaul, communications; Tiffany Kyser, Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis, English education; Cherie Lea, UNC-Wilmington, mathematics; Kristy Loiselle, Wisconsin-Green Bay, elementary education; Ann Mimm, Niagara, education; Carey Sauer, San Francisco, mathematics.