MERCED, Calif. – Juniors Tiler Fears and Jaron Mertle from the University of California, Merced men's basketball team were named to the 2022-23 Academic All-District Team, the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) have announced. With the recognition, the Bobcats duo advances to the CSC Academic All-America ballot where selections will be announced in mid-March.
Fears, who has earned enough units to be a senior academically, holds a 3.8 GPA in his Management and Business Economics undergraduate studies. The Folsom, Calif., native ranks top five on the team averaging 20 minutes per game, 1.7 assists per game, 0.6 steals per game, and a .441 field goal percentage. Fears scored eight points and recorded two assists in the Bobcats program-record 19th win on Saturday against Simpson. He scores over five points per game overall.
Mertle holds a 3.6 GPA as a Management & Business Economics major. The Lakeport, Calif., native finished the regular season as the only California Pacific Conference player to average at least 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game. Mertle also finished top five on the team with 24.2 minutes per game and 16 starts. In December, Mertle grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds against Park University Gilbert and blocked a career-high three shots at Westcliff. He finished the year with a block in four of his last five games.
The 2022-23 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes basketball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid March. To be eligible, student-athletes must hold a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and must have completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution.
CSC Academic All-District Teams
Both Fears and Mertle are also Chancellor's List members and Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes.
