Feb. 9, 2006
For the third straight season, Illinois State's Neil Plank was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® University All-District V Team on Thursday. -
For the third straight season, Illinois State's Neil Plank was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® University All-District V Team on Thursday.
The first-year master's of business administration student is currently third on the team in scoring with 7.8 points per game. He has played in all 22 games this season, including 20 starting assignments, while leading the team with 62 assists and averaging 3.5 rebounds per contest. The product of Mt. Zion, Ill., earned his bachelor's degree in finance with a 3.93 grade point average.
It was no surprise to head coach Porter Moser that Plank has been honored three straight years based on his drive and will to succeed.
"There was one prediction I was right about and that is that there is no question with Neil's academic capabilities and drive," said Moser. "It's phenomenal that he keeps doing it every year and it's a credit to him. I think after this year, when he goes out into the real world, some company is going to be very fortunate to have Neil because of his drive to succeed academically. It's an unbelievable honor for him."
Plank was one of two players on the five-player team representing the Missouri Valley Conference. He joined Southern Illinois' Jamaal Tatum, as well as Minnesota's Adam Boone, Valparaiso's Dan Oppland and Notre Dame's Chris Quinn.
His third All-District V honor joins a long list of academic accomplishments for Plank. Last season he became Illinois State's 12th basketball academic all-American when he was named to the 2005 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America University Division Men's Basketball Second Team. He also added the 2005 Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Student-Athlete of the Year, after being named the 2003-04 Illinois State Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
