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Matt Palucki of Washington Named to Capital One Academic All-America Team

Matt Palucki of Washington Named to Capital One Academic All-America Team
Posted: Feb 24, 2015

From Washington University Athletics

Washington University in St. Louis senior forward Matt Palucki was named to the 2014-15 Capital One Academic All-America Men's Basketball Second Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Palucki is the sixth WashU men's basketball student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors, and the first since Cameron Smith in 2010. A two-time first-team Capital One Academic All-District V and three-time Academic All-University Athletic Association (UAA) selection, Palucki has a 3.70 GPA while majoring in systems engineering and finance.

"What a great honor and recognition for Matt. His statistics on the basketball court speak for themselves, but it is what he has accomplished off the court these past four years that truly defines his success at Washington University," said WashU men's basketball coach Mark Edwards. "His strong classroom performance was achieved while pursuing a double major in engineering and business.  He will graduate this spring as someone who made a significant impact on our program both on and off the court."

Palucki has started 23 of 24 games for the Bears, and is averaging 15.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has scored in double figures in all but four games, including a season-high 28 points vs. Trinity (Texas) Dec. 6 and vs. University of Rochester Jan. 18. Palucki has recorded eight double-doubles this season, and ranks first in the UAA in free-throw percentage (.870), fifth in scoring (15.7) and rebounding (8.0), and 10th in three-pointers made per game (1.5).

With 18 points in a 90-72 win vs. then-No. 5 ranked Illinois Wesleyan University Dec. 13, Palucki became the 23rd player in school history to score 1,000 points in a career. He is second in school history in free-throw percentage (.837), third in rebounds (712) and 15th in scoring (1,208).

In order to be selected to an Academic All-America team, a student-athlete must possess at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA and be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing.