CHICAGO (May 9, 2024) – UIC men's basketball rising senior forward Filip Skobalj (Belgrade, Serbia/Don Bosco-Schule Rostock) has been selected for the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar-Athlete Team, it was announced Thursday. Skobalj is the first UIC basketball scholar-athlete to receive the award in its 22-year history, and he is the lone honoree with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point average on this year's team.
 
A two-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team selection, Skobalj (last name pronounced SHKO-ball) is working towards his bachelor's degree in management. On the court, he is coming off the best season of his three-year UIC career, registering personal-best averages in scoring (8.2 ppg.), rebounding (3.6 rpg.), field-goal percentage (.470), three-point percentage (.418; second in the MVC and tops among 2024-25 conference returnees) and free-throw percentage (.852) while appearing in 31 games and starting 29 times. Skobalj also scored in double figures 12 times during the 2023-24 season, including a career-high 21 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting in a Feb. 11 win over Northern Iowa.
 
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious annual awards. Each of the nominees is required to maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.20 (4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, individuals must have reached junior academic standing at their respective institution (ineligible athletics transfers are not eligible).
 
Fans are strongly encouraged to support NIL opportunities for UIC scholar-athletes through contributions to The Chicago Collective. In addition, season ticket deposits for the 2024-25 Flames' men's basketball campaign are currently being accepted online through Ticketmaster or by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office (312.413.8421; athleticsticketing@uic.edu).
 
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).
 
About Division I-AAA ADA: Now in its 23rd year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (the 98 Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. For more information on the Division I-AAA ADA, please visit www.div1aaa-ada.com. The Division I-AAA ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 59th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.