Boydell and Watts are Selected for NABC Honors Court

By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University men's basketball players Jack Boydell (Jr., F, Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) and Jonathan Watts (Sr., W, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) have been chosen as members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for the 2021-22 season for their success in the classroom. Watts was selected as a member of the Honors Court for the second year in a row, while Boydell was included for the first time after becoming eligible for the award as a junior academically this year. This marks the eighth consecutive year that the Bearcats have had a player receive this distinction. They were joined by 18 other Northwest Conference student-athletes named to the Honors Court.

In order to qualify for the NABC Honors Court student-athletes had to achieve a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or higher through the end of the 2021-22 academic year. Each selection also had to be a varsity player who recently finished his junior or senior season. Every Honors Court athlete was at his current college or university for at least one full year.

"Jack and Jonathan have been reliable role models on and off the floor for our younger players," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Kip Ioane said. "This well-deserved recognition from the NABC is another testament to why we can trust them in that capacity."

NABC Honors Court for 2021-22

Jack Boydell (Jr., Forward) has played three seasons for the Bearcats, majoring in Economics. He started all 24 games this season and was second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game. He had an outstanding year at the free throw line, shooting 80.8 percent and led the team with 38 three-pointers. In addition, he was third on the team with 76 rebounds, 48 assists and 30 steals.

He led the team in scoring and rebounding in the shortened spring 2021 season, as he averaged 19.8 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. He played in all 25 games in 2019-20, including eight starts, while averaging 8.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

For his career, Boydell has scored 622 points. He has shot 76.1 percent from the free throw line, and has recorded exactly 200 rebounds. He has played in 53 games, earning 36 starts.  

Jonathan Watts (Sr., Wing) returned to the line-up this season. He is majoring in Exercise and Health Science. He played and started in 18 games in 2021-22, ranking third on the team in scoring and averaging 14.0 points per game. He was fourth in the Northwest Conference with 81.4 percent shooting from the free throw line. He shot over 40 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, hitting 33 long-range baskets on the year. Watts was the team's second-leading rebounder with 85 boards, while adding 26 assists and 24 steals.

He missed all of the 2020-21 season and most of the 2019-20 season due to an injury. In 2019-20, he started four games and averaged 9.8 points per contest. He made five 3-pointers and was 10 for 10 at the free throw line. As a first-year player in 2018-19, Watts played in all 25 games and made 20 starts. He shot 54.4 percent from the field while scoring 12.8 points per game. He hit 43 of 78 three-point shots for 55.1 percent and made 42 of 52 free throws for 80.8 percent.

Watts has played in 47 games, earning 42 starts in his career. He has been solid from the free throw line, shooting 82.6 percent while scoring 610 points and adding 212 rebounds, 95 assists and 55 steals.

Note:  Academic year listed for each player is for the 2021-22 season.