GREENWOOD, Ind. – North Carolina Central's men's tennis team had four Eagles named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team: Rodrigo Alves, Naresh Bharathy, Kareem Abdul Hakim and Antoni Pankowski.
CSC All-District Team members must meet academic and athletic eligibility. Student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically, with a 3.50 grade point average or higher. Athletically, student-athletes must have competed in at least 75 percent of team matches.
Alves capped an eventful senior season with multiple awards and recognitions, including being named a finalist for the 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year Award. At the NCCU Eddie Awards, Alves received the Chancellor's Award, Eagle Excellence Academic Award and was named Co-MVP of the men's tennis team. The All-MEAC First Team selection finished the season with an 11-7 singles record, highlighted by non-conference victories over Campbell, UNC Asheville and Fairfield.
Bharathy also collected several postseason honors during his senior campaign. He earned the Debra Saunders-White Leadership Award and was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year at the NCCU Eddies. Bharathy posted a 4-1 record at No. 1 singles in conference play and earned All-MEAC Second Team recognition.
Pankowski teamed with Bharathy in doubles play, as the pair finished with a 13-4 record that included an eight-match winning streak at the No. 2 position. In singles competition, Pankowski earned a 13-6 record with victories over opponents from nationally ranked NC State, UNC Greensboro, Davidson and UNC Asheville.
Abdul Hakim partnered with Alves at the No. 1 doubles position, where the duo finished with an 11-8 record and just one conference loss. In singles play, the senior earned wins over opponents from UNC Greensboro, Davidson and North Carolina A&T.
All four Eagles were named to the MEAC All-Academic Team this spring. Abdul Hakim and Alves also earned CSC All-District honors last season.
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