Kaiser among SCAC Man of the Year Finalists
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The University of Dallas nominated Tom Kaiser (Nashville, Tenn.) for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Man of the Year. Today, the conference released that Kaiser was one-of-six finalists for the recognition. A 2017 graduate and four-year player for the men's basketball program, Kaiser represented the Crusaders well both on and off the court.
Kaiser landed a couple records in a 136-127 victory over Rhodes College on January 2, 2017. In a game that matched a school record for total points, Kaiser just surpassed the individual record for points in a game by two with 45 (4th all-time in SCAC). Most of that massive total of points was thanks to 21-for-24 field goal shooting. The made field goals set another single-game best and conference record. The incredible performance also earned Kaiser United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Player of the Week.
On the year, Kaiser shot 70.5 percent from the floor to set a UD season record and lead the SCAC and USCAA. He averaged 11 points-per-game and blocked 35 shots for a team-high and second in the SCAC. For his career, the forward checked in seventh in rebounds (538) and third in blocks (93) for the program record books.
In the classroom, Kaiser was named to the USCAA National All-Academic Team for three consecutive years. He qualified for the SCAC Winter Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll those same years in a row, too. Kaiser was announced on the All-SCAC Sportsmanship Team this past year.
In the spring of 2016, Kaiser led in a spring break service trip to McAllen, Texas. Moreover, Kaiser volunteered at Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve, Irving ISD mentorship program, and Crusaders for Kids. The team captain for the men's basketball team in 2015-16 and 2016-17 was named SCAC Character & Community Male Student-Athlete of the Week during his junior year.
To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in his primary sport by the end of the 2017 spring season, received his undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2017 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).
The 2017 Southern Collegiate Athletic Man of the Year will be selected and announced later this month.