Michael Megafu Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District™ Men's Basketball Team
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) senior Michael Megafu has been selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America to the 2015-16 Academic All-District™ Men's Basketball team.
It marks the second straight year an SJC Brooklyn men's basketball student-athlete has garnered Academic All-District™ honors following frontcourt mate David Louison '15 who went on to become Brooklyn's first Academic All-America® recipient.
As a First-Team Academic All-District honoree for District 3, Megafu is one of only seven student-athletes from all Division III schools in New York state to receive the distinction. He will join the other 47 All-District honorees on the national ballot, where first-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be selected later this month.
"It's a huge honor. It's good to have accolades that reflect not your athletic performance, but your academic one as well," said Megafu. "There's a lot of people out there in the district, so it's a blessing."
"All of Michael's honors are truly well-deserved. We are proud to have him representing St. Joseph's on this very prestigious list," commented Alex Winnicker, interim director of athletics and recreation. "We wish him best of luck in the Academic All-American ballot."
On the court, Megafu's career resume is impressive. He is currently only one of two active Division III men's basketball players to score 1,500 points and secure 1,000 rebounds—all in a 6-foot-3 frame—with his 1,070 rebounds and 57 double-doubles tops among all active players.
He currently leads the Skyline in both rebounding (10.5 per game) and double-doubles (12) and is third in blocks (1.9 per game), helping the Bears to a 12-11 record and in contention for a Skyline Tournament bid in their first season in the conference.
"While I am grateful for all of Mike's accomplishments on the court, I am most proud of who he is off the court," remarked Joseph Cocozello, head men's basketball coach. "His academics have always taken precedence over basketball as evidenced by his extraordinary achievement in the classroom."
Off the court, the Nazareth Regional H.S. product is prepping for a future medical career with a biology major and chemistry minor, all while earning dean's list honors in all seven semesters at St. Joseph's and compiling a 3.83 grade point average. The Jamaica, N.Y. native is also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"I always try to be the best. It really comes from my parents," Megafu attributing his success both on and off the court. "They're immigrants from Africa and they've always wanted to live that American dream. Me being born here, it's a blessing, and it's been my responsibility to give back to them by working hard and doing the little things."
"He certainly models the term student-athlete!" concluded Cocozello. "And most significant of all, he is an absolute gentleman."
Joining Megafu on the 2015-16 Academic All-District™ Team are Joey Flanagan of Ithaca College, Mitch Ford of Nazareth College, Trevor Norton of Hartwick College, Keegan Ryan of St. John Fisher, Erikson Wasyl of Vassar College and Ryan Whelpley of Union College.