Tyler Lundblade of Belmont has been selected the State Farm MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipient, and he highlights a list of 17 student-athletes honored as part of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete Team, announced today by the league office. Voting for Scholar-Athlete of the Year was conducted by league’s sports information directors.
Lundblade, the league's Larry Bird Trophy Winner, holds a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average while pursuing an MBA. He also had a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA during his undergraduate studies, majoring in marketing.
The criteria for the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team voting parallels the CSC (College Sports Communicators) standards for Academic All-America nominations. To be nominated, a student-athlete must have a 3.50 cumulative GPA, both as an undergraduate and graduate student, where applicable. If a GPA has not been established as a transfer student, the cumulative GPA from the nominees’ previous institution must be used. Student-athletes must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing. Redshirt freshmen are not eligible. Eligible nominees must compete in at least 75 percent of the regular season OR must start in at least 50 percent of the institution’s games.
| Student-Athlete, School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Andrew Alia, Drake |
R-Jr. |
3.84 |
Business Law |
| Jack Daugherty, Illinois State |
So. |
3.79 |
Sports Communication |
| Xavier Hall, Indiana State |
Sr. |
3.65 |
Computer Science |
| Will Hornseth, UNI |
So. |
3.98 |
Sociology |
| Johnny Kinziger, Illinois State |
Jr. |
3.61 |
Finance |
| Tyler Lundblade, Belmont |
Gr. |
4.00 |
MBA |
|
|
|
Undergrad: 4.0 Marketing |
| Ty Pence, Illinois State |
Jr. |
3.74 |
Business Administration |
| Kyle Pock, UN |
Jr. |
3.97 |
Biochemistry |
| Brigham Rogers, Belmont |
Jr. |
3.63 |
Finance |
| Drew Scharnowski, Belmont |
R-So. |
3.82 |
Exercise Science |
| Eli Shetlar, Drake |
R-So. |
3.71 |
Finance |
| Brayden Shorter, Murray State |
Jr. |
3.50 |
Marketing |
| Sam Silverstein, UIC |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Graduate Studies |
|
|
|
Undergrad: 4.0 Applied Mathematics |
| Tristan Smith, UNI |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Kinesiology & Sport Performance |
|
|
|
Undergrad: 3.82 Exercise Science |
| Tucker Tornatta, Valparaiso |
So. |
3.57 |
Business |
| Landon Wolf, Illinois State |
R-Sr. |
3.93 |
Risk Management and Insurance |
| Kai Yu, Bradley |
R-So. |
3.81 |
Communication Studies |