IRVINE, Calif. — UC San Diego had nine scholar-athletes named to The Big West Winter All-Academic Team, as announced Tuesday by the conference. The Winter team comprises the sports of men's and women's basketball.
 
To be eligible, student-athletes must carry a minimum grade point average of 3.00, be at least a sophomore academically with one full year at the institution, and have competed in 50 percent of the team's contests.
 
A total of 83 scholar-athletes who compete in the winter sports of men's and women's basketball across The Big West were honored for their work in the classroom and on the court as members of the 2023-24 Big West Winter Academic All-Conference Team.
 
By sport, women's basketball had 46 honorees, while men's basketball had 37.  
 
By school UC Riverside had the most honorees with 11. Not far behind the Highlanders was Long Beach State with 10 and UC San Diego with nine. Hawai'i and Cal State Bakersfield had eight honorees each. 
 
The Big West recognizes individuals academically per season – fall, winter, and spring – for all conference-sponsored sports. The Fall Academic All-Conference Team was announced in January with 55 Tritons honored, and the Spring Academic All-Conference Team will honor student-athletes from men's and women's golf, men's and women's track and field, women's water polo, men's and women's tennis, men's volleyball, beach volleyball, softball and baseball.
 
UC SAN DIEGO 2023-24 WINTER ALL-ACADEMIC HONOREES
Men's Basketball (4)

J'Raan Brooks	Sr.	Ethnic Studies
Justin DeGraaf	Jr.	Mathematics - Computer Science
Bryce Pope	Sr.	Real Estate and Development
Emmanuel Tshimanga	Sr.	Sociology

 
Women's Basketball (5)

Izzy Forsyth	Jr.	Communication
Gracie Gallegos	R-Fr.	Business Economics
Gabby Louther	So.	Business Economics
Denali Pinto	Gr.	Masters of Finance
Katie Springs	Jr.	Political Science/Public Law

 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.