California Irvine Athletics

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's and women's basketball placed eight student-athletes on the 2024-25 Big West Winter All-Academic Team the conference office announced Monday.
 
On the women's side, Nikki Tom (business administration) and Amelia Scharpf (criminology/psychological science) made The Big West All-Academic Team for the third year in a row, while Nevaeh Dean, who is pursuing a master's degree in legal and forensic psychology, earned her second career honor. Déja Lee (biological sciences), Shirel Nahum (undeclared) and Olivia Williams (social ecology) were also first-time Big West All-Academic selections.
 
On the court, Lee averaged 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game to receive her second consecutive first-team All-Big West nod. She ranks 10th among UCI's all-time scoring leaders with 1,108 career points. Tom will graduate as the program leader in career steals (205), games played (128), games started (105) and minutes played (3,726). This year, Tom led the 'Eaters with 48 steals and was second in assists (74). Williams also ranked fourth on the squad in scoring (7.4 ppg), while Dean registered a career-best 5.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per outing.
 
The women's basketball program had their fourth-straight 20-win campaign in 2024-25. They finished the season ranked among the top-10 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (5th) and scoring defense (10th).

Men's basketball had two all-academic selections this season in Ofure Ujadughele and Bent Leuchten. Ujadughele (Master in Finance) was recognized for the fifth time in his career while Leuchten (Environmental Science and Policy) received his third all-academic nod.
 
Both players helped the Anteaters smash several team single season records and also have individual ones in their names. Ujadughele is the school and Big West record holder for games played while being a member of the league. Leuchten, who led the team in points (15.4) and rebounds (9.1) per game, recorded the nation's sixth-best mark in double-doubles (20), pulled down a single-season best 354 rebounds, and knocked down a school record 213 free throws this year.
 
The men's basketball program played in the NIT postseason tournament for the third-straight season, this time as an auto qualifier, advancing all the way to the championship game for the first time in the program's history. UCI, who won a program-best four postseason games, set the new single season win total at 32.
 
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

Women's Basketball (6)
Nevaeh Dean
Déja Lee
Shirel Nahum
Amelia Scharpf
Nikki Tom
Olivia Williams
 
Men's Basketball (2)
Bent Leuchten
Ofure Ujadughele