BATON ROUGE – The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes honored six LSU student-athletes for their academic achievements and community service for the month of August.
Each month, five student-athletes are recognized for their academic improvement, dedication and proven ability. In addition, one student-athlete is chosen through the CHAMPS Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success program for their volunteerism and commitment to the community.
August’s Student-Athletes of the Month are Kendrick Adams [Football], Chris Bass [Men’s Basketball], Nikki Bush [Soccer], Drake Nevis [Football] and Tania Schatow [Volleyball]. Ericka Garcia [Gymnastics] was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal CHAMPS/Life Skills Student-Athlete of the Month.
Bass, Bush and Nevis are majoring in general studies, while Garcia is a nutrition major. Sports administration and kinesiology are Adams and Schatow’s majors, respectively.
Garcia, a sophomore gymnast from Mexico City, was a mainstay in the vault, bars and beam lineups last season. She posted a 9.80 or higher on the vault in seven of eight matches and tallied a season-best 9.85 on the beam at the SEC Championship. Garcia recently joined the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as gymnastics’ team representative. During the summer, she participated in Habitat for Humanity builds and the American Heart Association’s Go Healthy Challenge.
A junior defensive end from Enterprise, Ala., Adams joined the team during the spring and will be in the mix for playing time in 2010. He was a member of the Rivals.com Junior College Top 50 and SuperPrep JUCO 100 after recording 35 tackles, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
Bass, a junior guard from Baton Rouge, averaged 2.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season. He has appeared in 59 games over his first two seasons and dished out a career-high six assists against zero turnovers in 28 minutes against Mississippi State. Bass poured in a career-best seven points on two occasions versus Louisiana-Monroe and No. 13 Connecticut during the 2009-10 season.
A defender from Clinton, Miss., Bush racked up back-to-back SEC All-Tournament team selections and made 88 career appearances to tie for the No. 2 spot in program history. She was a part of 50 wins during her tenure as LSU soccer recorded three straight SEC Western Division crowns and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2007-09.
Nevis, a senior defensive tackle from Marrero, is poised for a breakout season after garnering All-SEC Preseason Second-Team accolades in July. He recorded 50 tackles highlighted by a team-best 11 tackles for loss last season. Nevis also totaled four sacks and was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List given to the nation’s top interior lineman.
A senior from Fraser, Mich., Schatow appears ready to contribute either at middle blocker or outside hitter for LSU volleyball in 2010 after seeing spot duty during her first three seasons. She has collected 73 blocks over 104 sets of action.
For putting forth extra effort in the classroom and community in addition to their rigorous academic and competition schedules, these six student-athletes will have their pictures displayed on the wall in the CCACSA.