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Men's Basketball NAIA Press Release

Stutts Coach of the Year, Horton and Sain All-Americans

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The NAIA announced the 2026 men's basketball All-American teams, national player of the year, and national coach of the year awards this morning. Twelve student-athletes are represented as first- or second-team All-Americans, while 17 are represented on the third team. Three institutions received more than one honor, with Northwestern (Iowa), LSU Shreveport (La.), and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) each earning two All-American honors.

Two-time national champion head coach Drew Stutts of Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) was selected as the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year. Stutts led the Lions through a perfect Mid-South Conference schedule, going undefeated at 12-0. This season marked the first time FHU has done so in conference action. Furthermore, Stutts and Co. finished the 2026 season at 35-1, rattling off 32 consecutive wins that began back on November 8. Coach Stutts led FHU to wins over one team ranked inside the top five and top 10 of the national poll, two top 25 wins, and two wins against teams receiving votes in the national polls this season. 

Northwestern's sophomore Jesse Van Kalsbeek was tabbed as the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Player of the Year along with his first-team All-American honors. The Sheldon, Iowa, native led the nation in points per game, averaging 27.8 over 34 games; he also led in defensive rebounds (363) and total rebounds (421) this season, while averaging 34.1 minutes per game. He also ranked in the top three nationally in boards per game (12.4) and points per 40 minutes (32.6). Van Kalsbeek raised the bar this season, setting five new career highs in points (34), assists (7), steals (4), blocks (2), and field goals made (15).
 

First Team
Bradley Bunch Pikeville (Ky.) Big Stone Gap, Va.
Jesse Van Kalsbeek Northwestern (Iowa) Sheldon, Iowa
Tamaje Izuagbe Oklahoma Wesleyan Burleson, Texas
Cole Bowen Graceland (Iowa) Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jalen Langsy Northwestern (Iowa) Shakopee, Minn.
Caedmon Bontrager   Indiana Wesleyan Fort Wayne, Ind.
Ian Raasch   Grace (Ind.) Nappanee, Ind.
Micah Clark   Nelson (Texas) Dallas, Texas
Hayden Brittingham   LSU Shreveport (La.) Fort Worth, Texas
Omari Nesbit    Rocky Mountain (Mont.) Sacramento, Calif.
Nick Hopkins   Hope International (Calif.) Los Angeles, Calif.
Ese Onakpoma   Arizona Christian Nuagatuck, Conn.
 
Second Team
Camerin James Keiser (Fla.) Apopka, Fla.
Devontre Chaney Georgia Gwinnett Lake Wales, Fla.
EJ McQuillan LSU Alexandria (La.) Port Allen, La.
Foday Sheriff William Penn (Iowa) Upper Darby, Pa.
Isaiah Crane Carroll (Mont.) Portland, Ore.
Jackson Cooper Oregon Tech Portland, Ore.
Jaxson Fugate Indiana Tech Fort Wayne, Ind.
Kameron Johnson Loyola (La.) New Orleans, La.
Kenyata Carbon Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) Owensboro, Ky.
Kyle Duke Cumberlands (Ky.) Toronto, Ontario
Michael Klekas Ave Maria (Fla.) Elko, Nev.
Orlando Thomas Langston (Okla.) Chicago, Ill.
 
Third Team
Avery Jackson The Master's (Calif.) Dallas, Texas
Derek Fairley Lourdes (Ohio) Cleveland, Ohio
Hayden Diekhans Montana Tech Geraldine, Mont.
Delon McCloud Rio Grande (Ohio) Grand Rapids, MI
Isaiah Howard Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) Seattle, Wash.
Jonas Carlisle Oklahoma City San Antonio, Texas
Kaden Johnson Huntington (Ind.) Hartford, Mich.
Eli Edwards Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) Kokomo, Ind.
Khi Wallace LSU Shreveport (La.) Nashville, Tenn.
Makeem Roberts William Carey (Miss.) Meridian, Miss.
Mason Lockhart Johnson (Tenn.) Atlanta, Ga.
Phil Horton Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) Memphis, Tenn.
Qualen Pettus Dalton State (Ga.) Fort Wayne, Ind.
Deion Wesson Williams Baptist (Ark.) Jonesboro, Ark.
Raymond Reece Philander Smith (Ark.) Oakland, Calif.
Rico Sain Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) Jackson, Tenn.
Timothy Parker Simpson (Calif.) Riverside, Calif.
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Players Mentioned

Phil Horton

#24 Phil Horton

F
6' 6"
Graduate Student
3L
Rico Sain

#10 Rico Sain

G
6' 2"
Senior
TR

Players Mentioned

Phil Horton

#24 Phil Horton

6' 6"
Graduate Student
3L
F
Rico Sain

#10 Rico Sain

6' 2"
Senior
TR
G
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