Ross Named Finalist for Nolan Richardson Award

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW men's basketball senior guard Noah Ross has been named a finalist for the 2025-26 Nolan Richardson award, as announced by CollegeInsider.com on Tuesday afternoon.

Ross is one of 25 players to be named a finalist for the award that is presented annually to a "Division I player who is the heart and soul of his team and a leader on and off the court," according to College Insider.

Renowned as one of the most competitive players in school history, Ross appeared in more than 20 games each year of his four-year career. He has started 77 of 116 contests.

The Apex, N.C., native is one of three Seahawks in program history to win more than 98 career games and was an All-CAA Tournament Team member when he helped UNCW to its league record seventh CAA Tournament Championship in 2025.

This season, Ross started every contest and led the Seahawks to their league-record 10th regular-season crown and first outright title since 2017. He produced his first career double-double earlier this season and reached double figures 17 times, averaging 9.5 ppg.

The award is named after Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and College Basketball Hall of Fame head coach Nolan Richardson, the only coach to win NJCCA, NIT and NCAA National Championships.

During his 22 seasons of coaching in NCAA Division I, Richardson made a postseason tournament appearance 20 times and led Arkansas to the 1994 national championship as well as the 1990 Final Four.

The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.

NOLAN RICHARDSON AWARD FINALISTS

Chris Asby	6-2	Sr.	Queens
Austin Benigni	5-11	Sr.	Navy
Rueben Chinyelu	6-10	Jr.	Florida
Jack Collins	6-5	Sr.	Monmouth
Melvin Council, Jr,	6-4	Sr.	Kansas
Zach Cleveland	6-7	Sr.	Liberty
Alonzo Dodd	6-1	Sr.	Appalachian State
Thomas Dowd	6-8	Jr.	Troy
Logan Duncomb	6-10	Sr.	Winthrop
Roddy Gayle, Jr.	6-5	Sr.	Michigan
Bryce Harris	6-4	Sr.	Howard
Nate Heise	6-5	Sr.	Iowa State
Sam Hoiberg	6-0	Sr.	Nebraska
TJ Hurley	6-5	Sr.	Vermont
Tavari Johnson	5-11	Sr.	Akron
Alex Karaban	6-8	Sr.	UConn
Boopie Miller	6-0	Sr.	SMU
Noah Ross	6-7	Sr.	UNCW
Braden Smith	6-0	Sr.	Purdue
Peter Suder	6-5	Sr.	Miami OH
Nick Townsend	6-7	Sr.	Yale
Seth Trimble	6-3	Sr.	North Carolina
Garfield Turner	6-8	Sr.	Drexel
Ace Valentine	6-3	Jr.	UMBC
Harry Wessels	7-1	Sr.	Saint Mary's

PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Henry Coleman III, Texas A&M (2025); Jamal Shead, Houston (2024).

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Players Mentioned

#5 Noah Ross: G; 6' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#5 Noah Ross
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G

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Ross Named Finalist for Nolan Richardson Award

Players Mentioned

#5 Noah Ross

Players Mentioned

#5 Noah Ross