IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's and women's basketball placed seven student-athletes on the 2022-23 Big West Winter All-Academic Team the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
On the women's side, a pair of sophomores in their first year of being eligible made their debut on the all-academic team. Nikki Tom, an All-Big West selection, started every game for the Anteaters, averaging 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals in a team-leading 35.7 minutes per outing. She is majoring in business administration.
 
Amelia Scharpf, who appeared in every game and started the last 14 of the season, also registered 5.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Scharpf is majoring in psychology.
 
Men's basketball had five all-academic selections for the second year in a row. Ofure Ujadughele was recognized for the third time in his career. The senior will be graduating with a degree in business economics in June.
 
Junior Dawson Baker (Sociology), an All-Big West selection, received his second all-academic nod, while junior Devin Tillis (Psychology), and sophomores Bent Leuchten (Undeclared) and Akiva McBirney-Griffin (Social Ecology) earned their first honor.
 
Baker finished the season with a team-best 15.3 points per game. Leuchten also averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, while Tillis, who led the squad with three double-doubles, put up 7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per outing. McBirney-Griffin also made eight starts in 29 appearances (2.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg).
 
Both the men's and women's basketball programs won the 2022-23 Big West regular-season championship. It was the first title for the women and the eighth for the men.
 
To be eligible for the Big West All-Academic Team, student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, complete one full year at their member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore academically) and compete in at least 50% of their team's contests.
 
 
Big West Winter All-Academic Team
Men's Basketball (5)
Dawson Baker
Bent Leuchten
Akiva McBirney-Griffin
Devin Tillis
Ofure Ujadughele
 
Women's Basketball (2)
Amelia Scharpf
Nikki Tom