Repeat Academic All-District Honors for Bolon
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University men’s basketball standout Dalton Bolon has been named to the 2020-21 NCAA Division II Academic All-District® 2 Men’s Basketball Team for the third straight season.
Already a two-time returning All-American and Academic All-American. Bolon helped lead the Hilltoppers to another NCAA Division II Atlantic Region title and Elite Eight national tournament berth in March. He was one of only five players named to the prestigious squad when the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) released the list on Thursday afternoon.
Joining Bolon on the 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District® 2 honor roll are junior John Paul Kromka of Pitt-Johnstown, now a two-time All-District pick, and three seniors being honored for the first time – Kyle Daggett of Shepherd, James Sullivan of Millersville and Cole VonHandorf of Fairmont State.
A 6-4 sharpshooter from Gnadenhutten, Ohio, Bolon was the leading scorer and rebounder on the nation’s highest-scoring team for the second straight year this winter but was just as impressive in the classroom, maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA in the Physician’s Assistant program after graduating with honors and a 3.85 GPA in Human Biology.
On the court, Bolon played a major role in leading the Hilltoppers to their fourth straight MEC crown, 12th consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament bid and their sixth Atlantic Region championship and Elite Eight berth since 2011.
The West Liberty veteran ranked among the Top 25 nationally this season in in Scoring (21.3 ppg.), 3-Point Field Goals/Game (2.96/gm), 3-Point Field Goal Percentage (.444), Free Throw Percentage (.899) and Double-Doubles (7) while helping the Black and Gold collect their 13th national scoring title in the past 16 seasons.
Headed to the College of Charleston (S.C.) in the fall as an NCAA Division I graduate transfer, Bolon leaves the hilltop ranked among West Liberty’s all-time leaders in several statistical categories. His 2,247 career points and 351 bonus bombs trail only former NCAA D2 National Player of the Year Seger Bonifant in the Hilltopper record book.
Bolon’s latest honor adds to a lengthy record of academic success for head coach Ben Howlett and his high-flying Hilltoppers. The West Liberty men’s basketball program has produced at least one NCAA Division II Academic All-American in each of the past eight seasons, highlighted by two-time honoree Dan Monteroso’s selection as the 2017-18 NCAA Division II Academic All-American of the Year.
As a first-team Academic All-District® honoree, Bolon will once again be on the ballot for 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America® honors. If selected, Bolon would join 2014-15 WLU graduate C.J. Hester as the university’s only three-time NCAA Division II Academic All-Americans.
2020-21 CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
DISTRICT 2 (CIAA, MEC, PSAC)
NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball
Player School Yr GPA Major
DALTON BOLON WEST LIBERTY GR. 3.85/4.00 PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Kyle Daggett Shepherd Sr. 3.83 Chemistry
John Paul Kromka Pitt-Johnstown Jr. 3.94 Mechanical Engineering
James Sullivan Millersville Sr. 3.91 Business Administration/Accounting
Cole VonHandorf Fairmont State Sr. 3.50 Business Administration