Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Jamie Schwaberow/Clarkson Creative
Bittner named to NABC Honors Court for second time
7/17/2019 10:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State graduate Sam Bittner has closed his career as the most-decorated award winner for a combination of academic and athletic honors in program history.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In 2015, Sam Bittner took a chance on Fresno State and four years later he has graduated with a Mountain West tournament championship ring, a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a bachelor's degree in business administration with a focus in entrepreneurship. He has also collected the most prestigious combined academic and athletic awards in program history.
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On Wednesday, Bittner received his 21st individual accolade with his second straight selection to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for his efforts during the 2018-19 season, the organization announced.
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Bittner, a former walk-on who prepped at Trinity International High School in his hometown of Las Vegas, became the first Fresno State men's basketball student-athlete to earn Academic All-American honors. He was also a four-time MW Scholar Athlete and four-time Academic All-MW selection, and earned his spot as a scholarship player.
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But his contributions on the floor were key to helping Fresno State rise in the Mountain West, which has seen the 'Dogs win the second-most MW games (48) of any program in the conference in the last four seasons.
As a freshman, Bittner played in 18 games, which included a key 19-minute appearance off the bench as the Bulldogs handed San Diego State its only MW road loss as the 6-foot-6 forward helped contain the Aztecs' Winston Shepard and Skylar Spencer to just five combined points in the thrilling 58-57 win. Bittner also made four starts down the stretch to set the stage for the Bulldogs to capture the 2016 MW tournament championship.
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Throughout his stellar four-year career at Fresno State, Bittner was known for his toughness, 3-point shooting and ability to execute a scouting report. He finished his career with 108 games played with 71 total starts, while improving every single season. As a junior and senior, Bittner ranked as one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation and posted two of the program's top ten single-season 3-point shooting clips.
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A total of four Bulldogs (seven total awards) in the last decade have made the NABC's Honors Court, which recognizes men's basketball varsity junior and senior (academically) student-athletes for earning at least a 3.2 grade point average and matriculating at least one year at their current institution. The NABC Honors Court recognizes the talents and gifts that these men possess off the court and the hard work they exhibit in the classroom.
Nedeljko Golubovic (2009-10), Tanner Giddings (2013-14) and Jahmel Taylor (2015-16, 2016-17 & 2017-18) were the first three Fresno State student-athletes named to the NABC Honors Court earlier in the decade.
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Sam Bittner – Fresno State Accolades (2015-19)
2018-19: Sam Bittner
2017-18: Sam Bittner & Jahmel Taylor
2016-17: Jahmel Taylor
2015-16: Jahmel Taylor
2013-14: Tanner Giddings
2009-10: Nedeljko Golubovic
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"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
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On Wednesday, Bittner received his 21st individual accolade with his second straight selection to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for his efforts during the 2018-19 season, the organization announced.
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Bittner, a former walk-on who prepped at Trinity International High School in his hometown of Las Vegas, became the first Fresno State men's basketball student-athlete to earn Academic All-American honors. He was also a four-time MW Scholar Athlete and four-time Academic All-MW selection, and earned his spot as a scholarship player.
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But his contributions on the floor were key to helping Fresno State rise in the Mountain West, which has seen the 'Dogs win the second-most MW games (48) of any program in the conference in the last four seasons.
As a freshman, Bittner played in 18 games, which included a key 19-minute appearance off the bench as the Bulldogs handed San Diego State its only MW road loss as the 6-foot-6 forward helped contain the Aztecs' Winston Shepard and Skylar Spencer to just five combined points in the thrilling 58-57 win. Bittner also made four starts down the stretch to set the stage for the Bulldogs to capture the 2016 MW tournament championship.
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Throughout his stellar four-year career at Fresno State, Bittner was known for his toughness, 3-point shooting and ability to execute a scouting report. He finished his career with 108 games played with 71 total starts, while improving every single season. As a junior and senior, Bittner ranked as one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation and posted two of the program's top ten single-season 3-point shooting clips.
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A total of four Bulldogs (seven total awards) in the last decade have made the NABC's Honors Court, which recognizes men's basketball varsity junior and senior (academically) student-athletes for earning at least a 3.2 grade point average and matriculating at least one year at their current institution. The NABC Honors Court recognizes the talents and gifts that these men possess off the court and the hard work they exhibit in the classroom.
Nedeljko Golubovic (2009-10), Tanner Giddings (2013-14) and Jahmel Taylor (2015-16, 2016-17 & 2017-18) were the first three Fresno State student-athletes named to the NABC Honors Court earlier in the decade.
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Sam Bittner – Fresno State Accolades (2015-19)
- Google Cloud Third-Team Academic All-American [2018-19]
- Two-time Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 [2017-18 & 2018-19]
- Two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court [2017-18]
- Four-time Mountain West Scholar Athlete [2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 & 2018-19]
- Four-time Academic All-Mountain West [2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 & 2018-19]
- Four-straight 20-plus win seasons (108 games played with 71 starts)
- 2016 Mountain West Tournament champion
- 2016 NCAA Tournament First Round
- 2017 NIT First Round
- Five-time President's List & Three-time Dean's List honoree
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration-Entrepreneurship [2019]
2018-19: Sam Bittner
2017-18: Sam Bittner & Jahmel Taylor
2016-17: Jahmel Taylor
2015-16: Jahmel Taylor
2013-14: Tanner Giddings
2009-10: Nedeljko Golubovic
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"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
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Players Mentioned
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