SAN RAMON, Calif. — Eight San Francisco State student-athletes were named to their respective 2017-18 California Collegiate Athletic Association All-Academic teams for the winter, it was announced this week by the league office.

The San Francisco State basketball teams combined for eight honorees, tied for third-most among the conference. SF State men's basketball was led by Chiefy Ugbaja, Jase Wickliffe, Ryne Williams, and Evan Zeller. The women's squad was represented by Rachel Iozzia, Erika Nilsen, Imani Smith, and Jhaina Stephens.

The seasonal academic awards which were instituted in 2014, showcase individuals who are a sophomore in athletic standing or higher who maintain at least a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average while competing in a Conference-sponsored sport.

"As a conference, we couldn't be more proud of this diverse group of student-athletes," noted CCAA interim commissioner Mitch Cox. "With well over half of the honorees achieving at least a 3.5 grade point average, this exceptional group of young men and women really do stand tall when it comes to balancing academics and athletics."

Of the 87 honorees, more than half are making a repeat appearance on the Winter All-Academic Team. A total of 44 student-athletes have seen their names on at least one All-Academic squad with 14 men and women earning their third distinction from the conference in 2017-18.

Although the requirement for distinction is a 3.3 cumulative gpa, more than half of the men and women honored hold at least a 3.5 in their respective studies with 49 reaching the higher threshold in their academic pursuits.

The CCAA recognizes individuals academically per season – fall, winter and spring – for all CCAA-sponsored sports. In order to earn CCAA All-Academic team honors, a student-athlete must be of sophomore athletic standing or higher, and own a 3.3 cumulative GPA or better while competing in a Conference-sponsored sport in that season.

The CCAA Winter All-Academic Team consists of eligible student-athletes who compete in the sports of men's and women's basketball with the Spring All-Academic Team consisting of student-athletes from men's and women's golf, men's and women's track and field, softball and baseball. A total of 314 student-athletes were already recognized on the Fall All-Academic Team, honoring those eligible competitors in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer and volleyball. Through two-thirds of the academic year, 401 individuals have earned distinction for success in the classroom.