Sophomore guard Markus Howard has been named to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee as a non-voting member, Marquette University Vice President & Director of Athletics Bill Scholl announced Wednesday morning.
The committee is comprised of coaches and administrators from across the country, including BIG EAST Conference Commissioner Val Ackerman and University of Kansas Head Coach Bill Self. The only other student-athlete in the group is Kevin Vannatta of UNC Asheville.
“Markus has worked extremely hard to develop his leadership skills within our team and his selection to this committee is a perfect way for him to continue that process,” head coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “Markus is one of the top players in the country on the court and we look forward to the opportunity for him to contribute to the game away from it as well.”
The Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee will ensure that appropriate oversight of men’s basketball is maintained, will enhance the development and public perception of the sport and make recommendations related to regular-season and postseason men’s basketball. The committee will prioritize enhancement of the student-athlete educational experience (academically and athletically), and in doing so, promote student-athletes’ personal growth and leadership development.
The Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee will supervise qualifications and/or selection procedures for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The committee will review recommendations from the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee and process other issues related to the administration of the championship. The committee will assume many of the duties of the former NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Issues Committee and will provide direction to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Rules Committee regarding playing rules. The committee will be comprised of representatives from each divisional subgroup.
“We are very excited to see Markus named to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee,” Ackerman said. “Markus has demonstrated strong leadership on the basketball court, in the classroom and in the community, and his perspectives as a student-athlete will add enormous value as the MBOC continues to address the wide range of opportunities and challenges facing men’s college basketball.”
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