UIS men's basketball seniors Max Kunnert and Isaiah Esker have been named to the 2024-25 Academic All-District Team, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC). The award recognizes student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.

Academic All-District honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Kunnert, who was selected as a finalist, will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. Academic All-America honorees will be announced on April 15.

To qualify for this distinction, student-athletes must be at least sophomores in athletic and academic standing, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50, and either compete in 90 percent of the team's games or start in 66 percent.

Kunnert, who spent three years with the program after transferring from Hawaii Hilo, became the program's all-time leader in three-pointers, with 227 made at UIS and 282 in his collegiate career. He played 114 games in his career, logging over 3,600 minutes and scoring 1,463 points. Kunnert finished his career with a field goal percentage of 46.85% and 41.47% from three-point range. This season, he started every game, playing over 1,000 minutes while totaling 434 points, 125 rebounds, 48 assists, and 14 steals. He posted shooting percentages of 43.27% from the field and 36.22% from beyond the arc. His strong performance on the court and in the classroom earned him a spot on the ballot for Academic All-America.

Esker, a five-year member of the program, appeared in 115 games and played over 1,300 minutes. He totaled 519 points and 298 rebounds while maintaining a solid 52.71% career field goal percentage. His consistent contributions on both ends of the floor made him a reliable presence for the Prairie Stars throughout his career. This season, he played in 28 games, logging 484 minutes, and scored 168 points, along with 90 rebounds. Esker also posted an impressive 50.36% field goal percentage. 

Both Kunnert and Esker were Academic All-GLVC student-athletes for the 2023-24 academic year.