March 4, 2009
IRVING, Texas--Three Texas A&M players are among the28 student-athletes named to the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 Men's Basketball Team, the league office announced on Wednesday.
An Agricultural Leadership major,junior Chinemelu Elonu was selected to the first team, while sophomore Bryson Graham (Human Resource Development) were second-team picks. Elonu made the second-team last year.
Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and media relations offices, the men's basketball academic all-league squad consisted of 17 first team members combined with 11 on the second team. First team members have recorded a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second team are those with a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or in the two previous semesters and have participated in 60 percent of his team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
2009 Academic All-Big 12 men's basketball Team
First Team (3.20-plus GPA)
| Name | School | Class | Major | Hometown |
| Josh Lomers | Baylor | Jr. | Human Resources Management & Finance | Boerne, Tex. |
| Levi Knutson | Colorado | So. | Business | Littleton, Col. |
| Sean Haluska | Iowa St. | Sr. | Finance | Carroll, Iowa |
| Matt Kleinmann | Kansas | Sr. | Architecture | Overland Park, Kan |
| Tyrel Reed | Kansas | So. | Exercise Science | Burlington, Kan. |
| Buchi Awaji | Kansas St. | Jr. | Social Science | Los Angeles, Cal. |
| Chris Merriewether | Kansas St. | Jr. | Finance | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| DeMarre Carroll | Missouri | Sr. | Human Development & Family Studies-Graduate | Birmingham, Ala. |
| Nick Krenk | Nebraska | Sr. | Psychology | Nebraska City, Neb. |
| Paul Velander | Nebraska | Sr. | Biological Sciences | Blacksburg, Va. |
| James Anderson | Oklahoma St. | So. | Undeclared | Junction City, Ark. |
| Conner Atchley | Texas | Sr. | Graduate School of Advertising | Clear Lake, Tex. |
| Dogus Balbay | Texas | So. | Eastern European Studies | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Damion James | Texas | Jr. | Education (Social Work minor) | Nacogdoches, Tex. |
| Gary Johnson | Texas | So. | Social Work | Houston, Tex. |
| Chinemelu Elonu | Texas A&M | Jr. | Agricultural Leadership | Houston, Tex. |
| Esmir Rizvic | Texas Tech | Sr. | University Studies | Zenica, Bosnia |
Second Team (3.00 to 3.19 GPA)
| Name | School | Class | Major | Hometown |
| Alex Thompson | Iowa St. | Sr. | Political Science/Environmental Studies | Ames, Iowa |
| Cole Aldrich | Kansas | So. | Communication Studies | Bloomington, Minn. |
| Matt Lawrence | Missouri | Sr. | Business | St. Louis, Mo. |
| Taylor Griffin | Oklahoma | Sr. | Pre-Health & Exercise Science | Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| Omar Leary | Oklahoma | Sr. | Human Relations | Portland, Ore. |
| Ryan Wright | Oklahoma | Jr. | International Studies | Mississauga, Ontario |
| Justin Mason | Texas | Jr. | Education (Communications minor) | Amarillo, Tex. |
| Dexter Pittman | Texas | Jr. | Education (Ethnic Studies minor) | Rosenburg, Tex. |
| Bryson Graham | Texas A&M | Sr. | Human Resource Development | San Antonio, Tex. |
| Nathan Walkup | Texas A&M | So. | Business | Houston, Tex. |
| Mike Singletary | Texas Tech | So. | Business Administration | Humble, Tex. |
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