Thanks to his status as an All-American basketball player (among numerous other athletic accomplishments), Tyler Zeller will have his jersey honored in the Smith Center.
But Zeller should also be remembered for another accolade: earning first-team Academic All-America two years in a row and being named Academic All-America of the Year.
When a significantly contributing player like Zeller attains this level of academic achievement, it deserves recognition.
Just as our national championship and Final Four banners are proudly displayed in the Smith Center, there should also be space dedicated to celebrating our star athletes’ excellence in the classroom.
The men’s basketball team has only had eight Academic All-Americans in its entire history, and the athletic department says it has considered finding a way to recognize them.
Honoring their jerseys would be a simple way to send a powerful message about UNC athletics: We honor excellence in every aspect of our athletes’ lives, both on and off the court.
