CHAPEL HILL – When UNC coach Roy Williams was recruiting Tyler Zeller, he told the 7-footer that becoming a first-team Academic All America should be one of his goals.
Today, he met it. Carolina’s leading scorer was named to the team – along with Butler’s Matt Howard, Notre Dame’s Tim Abromaitis, Northern Colorado’s Devon Beitzel and Kansas’s Tyrell Reed – by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
“I’m very proud of him, he’s very happy about it,’’ Williams said. “He said, ‘That just shows I’m a big nerd.’
“…He’s so good on the court, in addition to in the classroom, you can’t just put him in a little pigeonhole and say he fits because he is so versatile at what he does.”
Zeller is the eighth Tar Heel to earn first-team Academic All-America honors and the first since Eric Montross in 1994.
Other Tar Heels to win first-team Academic All-Americahonors include Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham in 1965, Charles Scott in 1970, Steve Previs and Dennis Wuycik in 1972, Tommy LaGarde in 1976, Steve Hale in 1986 and Montross in 1994.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at
Comments
Congrats
Wed, 02/23/2011 - 12:10 — SurferWay to go Z. It is also nice to see what he can do on the court when healthy. Hoping for a double double tonight. Lots of tickets available for this one, I think that I might just drop by for a look see.
well done Tyler
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 22:45 — JPDOhioMore evidence that excellence in sports and in the classroom are not mutually exclusive goals.
Congrats to Mr. Zeller!
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 20:42 — Shoreman67It's gotta' be tough being a student athlete; very demanding. To excel academically as well as on the court is really an accomplishment to be proud of.
Congrats ZZZ
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 19:20 — unc098Congrats ZZZ
FINALLY ....
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 18:56 — AgentPierceFINALLY a piece of positive news about UNC Athletics. I don't mean that re: The N&O at all. I mean this has been a year since August of "a lot of bad news" coming out of Chapel Hill. THIS is terrific news.
And this is what college sports USED to be about.
USED to be about?
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 20:17 — igliigliFunny how you have forgotten NC State admitting a basketball player with a 480 SAT or members of the UNC football team threatening to beat up UNC Chancellor Hardin or how many UNC System athletes have been convicted of felonies.
Dear Ms Igili ....
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 22:57 — AgentPierceMy Dear Ms Igilii .... I betcha I can recount more UNC/NCSU "student athlete" malfeasances over the years than you can! And I actually sort of share your bone-deep dislike of big time college sports although I can actually discuss other subjects too. :>)
Zeller being named Academic AA is "a good thing" among a regular diet of not-so-good-things about college sports. So I say "attaboy Tyler Zeller".
Now back to your regular scheduled programs. ..... "FIRE ALL THE COACHES BLAH BLAH BLAH" ..... hehehehe!
HEY IGGY..
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 22:10 — hat_in_handHis comment was *it is nice to finally hear some good news