St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) Alec Willis Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Men’s Basketball Squad

By Jerry Del Priore and SJC Athletics Department

After succeeding in the classroom as well as on the court, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) selected St. Joseph’s College (Brooklyn) senior Alec Willis to its 2017-18 Academic All-District Men’s Basketball Team.

The senior captain becomes just the third player in hoops program history and the fourth SJC Brooklyn student-athlete to garner the honor.

“To be selected for such an award is a great honor and I am very appreciative of it because I feel this award embodies what it means to be a student-athlete, which is being a student first and then allowing your success in the classroom to carry over to the court,” Willis said of the selection in a press release. “I am blessed for this selection and couldn’t be happier with St. Joseph’s College for giving me the opportunity to flourish both on the court and in the classroom.”

The dynamic guard concluded a four-year career at the college last week, in which he totaled 915 points, 252 rebounds, 177 assists and 130 steals. Plus, he ended his SJC basketball career third all-time in three-point shooting percentage (37.1) and fourth in three-pointers made (188).

The St. Joseph by the Sea High School alum put up career highs this season, averaging 12.9 points per contest and led the Bears in percentage of treys made with 44 percent.

“A four-year starter and team captain the past two years, Alec has been a major contributor to our program,” commented Head Coach Joseph Cocozello, “In addition to his success on the court, his excellence in the classroom shows what a well-rounded individual he is. His work ethic is second to no one.”

Away from the hardwood, Willis maintained a 3.83 cumulative grade-point average. He also made the Dean’s List six times, was named to the Bears Scholar-Athlete Team twice and served as the Bears Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president for this school year, after serving as vice-president in 2016-17.

For his overall accomplishments at SJC, the 14th Annual Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup recently chose Willis as a semifinalist.

“We are very proud of Alec for the way in which he represents the men’s basketball program and the entire department through his continued academic and athletic successes,” remarked Director of Athletics and Recreation James Lally. “Being named to this team is a fitting way for our captain to cap off his senior year.”