By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University men's basketball players Ryan Peterson (Sr., P, Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway HS) and Jonathan Watts (Jr./So., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) have been chosen as members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for the 2020-21 season for their success in the classroom. Peterson was selected as a member of the Honors Court for the second year in a row, while Watts was included for the first time after becoming eligible for the award as a junior academically this year. They were joined by 10 other Northwest Conference student-athletes named to the Honors Court.

In order to qualify for the NABC Honors Court student-athletes had to achieve a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or higher through the end of the 2020-21 academic year. Each selection also had to be a varsity player who recently finished his junior or senior season. Every Honors Court athlete was at his current college or university for at least one full year.

NABC Honors Court for 2020-21

Ryan Peterson (Sr., Post) recently graduated from Willamette with a majoring in Economics. This year, in Willamette's short four-game season due to COVID-19, Peterson started all four games and averaged 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. During the 2019-20 season, he played in 24 games with two starts.

In his career at Willamette, Peterson saw action in 58 games, including six starts for the Bearcats. He shot 60.8% on field goals, scored 123 points, and hauled down 146 rebounds. He blocked 32 shots, including 16 in 2018-19 and 12 in 2019-20.

"Ryan Peterson was able to navigate a senior year disrupted by a global pandemic," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Kip Ioane said. "The resiliency he displayed in achieving this honor will serve him well in the future."

Jonathan Watts (Jr./So., Wing) is majoring in Exercise Science. He missed all of this season and most of the 2019-20 season due to an injury. In 2019-20, he started four games and average 9.8 points per contest. He made five three-pointers and was 10 for 10 at the free throw line.

As a first-year player in 2018-19, Watts played in all 25 games and made 20 starts. He shot 54.4% from the field while scoring 12.8 points per game. He hit 43 of 78 three-point shots for 55.1% and made 42 of 52 free throws for 80.8%. He is an 83.9% career free throw shooter.

"Jonathan Watts is one of the most driven players we've ever had," Ioane said. "This award is a testament to his self-determination."

Note:  Academic year listed for each player is for the 2020-21 season.