Men's Basketball | 2/6/2017 2:06:00 PM

Indianapolis, Ind.----Wingate University senior center Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) is one of only 10 men's basketball student-athletes on all levels of college basketball to be named to the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®. This prestigious award shines a light on 10 young men for the things they accomplish off the court.

"I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of this recognition," head coach Brian Good says. "His generosity with his commitment to others is unmatched. Keith embodies everything that we want our players to be. He approaches life with his best effort, whether it be on the floor or off. Our program is better in many ways by having him in it. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to coach him."

The Allstate NABC Good Works Teams® are comprised of 10 student-athletes – five from NCAA® Division I, and five from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. This year, sports information directors and coaches at colleges and universities across the country submitted a record 278 nominations, and in December 2016, 181 nominees from the NABC and 97 nominees from the WBCA were announced. Griffin is one of only two NCAA Division II men's basketball student-athlete to earn the honor this year.

"I feel extremely honored to have made the 2017 Allstate Good Works Team!" Griffin says. "I must first thank God for the opportunities he has presented to me. It is because of Him that I have been able to reach so many people in my four years at Wingate. My passion to serve others not only comes from my faith but from my wife Brittany and my mom. I credit them for who I am and where I am today. I would also like to thank coach Good and coach Kirkland for nominating me for this award and for supporting me throughout my basketball career."

The nominees were narrowed down to the final 20 players by voting panels led by former Duke University guard, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill and former Notre Dame star, three-time NCAA All-American and two-time WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins of the Dallas Wings. Both Hill and Diggins are making positive contributions that extend far beyond the basketball court, dedicating their time to various philanthropic initiatives, including teaching youth the importance of nutrition and physical activity. Each panel is comprised of a select group of former and current college basketball coaches and players as well as various members of the media.

Since 2013, members of the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® have given back to the host cities of the NCAA® Final Fours® through a community service initiative and monetary donation. This year, members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate to be recognized at the 2017 NABC Convention and 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four® and will participate in a community service project to benefit Phoenix.

"Allstate is thrilled to be joining the NABC and WBCA for a fifth consecutive year to highlight the remarkable displays of character demonstrated by student-athletes around the country," says Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2017 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panels. "We are proud to be a part of a program that places such high value on altruism and community service, both of which are intrinsic to Allstate's mission."

A Dean's List student in each of his first three years at Wingate, Griffin has been named to the SAC Honor Roll multiple times while earning Academic All-District honors as a junior. Griffin also earned Honors Court Recognition from the NABC.

Griffin makes several contributions at Wingate and in the community. A team captain for the Bulldogs, Griffin is in the FCA Leadership program. He has volunteered with the West Stanly Ministries and has spoken to students at Wingate Elementary School. Griffin has assisted with the Boys and Girls Club, doing after school tutoring and mentoring kids at Monroe Middle School. Griffin also participated in United Way Day of Caring, working with Habitat for Humanity.

Griffin and his wife started G.R.I.F.F.I.N. K-9 Rescue last year. Located in Monroe, N.C., they work with many shelters in the surrounding areas. Their goal is to rescue dogs from high-kill shelters and provide them a temporary home until they are adopted by a great family. They immediately take all dogs whether they were owner surrenders, strays, etc. to the vet and make sure they are healthy enough to be adopted.

Griffin earned preseason All-SAC honors this year. He averages 11.2 points per game for the Bulldogs, who have won 11 of their last 12 games. He leads the SAC with 2.6 blocked shots per game, ranking fourth in the league in field goal percentage (58.6) and eighth in rebounds per game (7.1).

In addition to Hill, Diggins and Clarkson, the 2017 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Clark Kellogg (Ohio State University / CBS Sports), Len Elmore (University of Maryland /FOX Sports / ESPN) and Alana Beard (Duke University); media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated / CBS Sports), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), LaChina Robinson (ESPN / FOX) and Brenda VanLengen (ESPN / FOX Sports); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (Georgia Tech / College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech University) and Nell Fortner (Auburn University); and current coach Coquese Washington (Penn State University).       

2017 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®
NCAA Division I                                                               
Steven Cook, Princeton University
Billy Garrett Jr., DePaul University
Monte Morris, Iowa State University
Rand Rowland, Georgia Institute of Technology
Sabri Thompson, Northwestern State University of Louisiana

NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA
Bryce Allen, North Greenville University
Jeremy Deemer, Graceland University
Evan Greening, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Keith Griffin, Wingate University
Steven Weidlich, Susquehanna University

About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Forrest "Phog" Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.org.

About the NCAA
The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for nearly half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit ncaa.org and ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola as official corporate champions and the following elite companies as official corporate partners: Allstate, Amazon Echo, Bing (Microsoft), Buffalo Wild Wings, Buick, Enterprise, Infiniti, LG, Lowe's, Nabisco, Northwestern Mutual, Pizza Hut, Reese's, Unilever and Wendy's.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,200 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 

In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 10 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.

Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 88 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 88 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 97 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.