The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) has named Bob Jones University Bruins men's basketball player Shad Vander Hart as part of the All-American First Team. Vander Hart is just the fourth player in program history to be named to the First Team (Nate Ellenwood, Jayson Barnhart, and Devin Pope).

"Shad has worked incredibly hard over the past four years," Head Coach Tony Miller said. "We're so proud of how he has represented our program and school."

It has been a historic season for the senior forward as he has averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game. On top of that, he leads the Bruins in steals (45) and blocks (22) while being second on the team in assists (50). Vander Hart plays with an efficient hustle that is hard to stop. This season, he has shot the rock at an outstanding 64% field goal percentage. 

Vander Hart grabbed a career high 17 rebounds in the Bruins first meeting with Baptist University of Florida (BUF), and he followed that with a career high 32 points against BUF just a week later. 

This standout season led to Vander Hart being named the NCCAA DII South Region Player of the Year before the region tournament began. In the region tournament, the Bruins waltzed their way through to win their third straight region title. Now Vander Hart and the Bruins look ahead to the NCCAA National Tournament in Minneapolis, Minnesota where the #7 seeded Bruins square off against #10 seeded Simmons College on Wednesday.

BJU is a NCCAA DII member featuring 13 varsity programs and nearly 200 student-athletes.