WEST POINT, NY – The Army West Point Athletics Association’s Academic Support team has selected its scholar-athletes for the month of January, honoring women’s basketball freshman Reese Ericson and men’s basketball senior Chris Mann.
Women’s Basketball
Reese Ericson ’26
Cadet Reese Ericson embodies the Women’s Basketball Team’s motto of “No Excuses!” As a freshman, she exceeds the standard by serving the team in multiple roles, to include Leader Representative, Cadet Director of Recruiting, and Guard. Head Coach Missy Traversi highlights Ericson’s impact to the team, stating that “Not only has Reese been setting records with her on-court statistics/ performance, but she has also been setting the standard for off-court expectations. Reese is coachable, a consistent energy spark, selfless, and ended her first semester here at West Point on the Dean’s list. As much of an impact Reese has been thus far, she is just starting to scratch the surface of what she’s capable of.“
Selected as a three-time Patriot League GEICO Rookie of the Week, Ericson consistently pushes herself and her teammates to excellence. Most recently, Ericson was instrumental in Army’s victory over Navy, logging a career-high 24 points on 8-15 shooting (53.3%). Her 24 points tied for the most in a game by an Army freshman since the 2009-10 campaign. In addition, Ericson is number one on the team in three-point field goals (3.12 per game) and free throws made (1.2 per game). She leads the team and ranks fifth in the Patriot League for number of assists, averaging 3.2 per game. She is third on the team for scoring, averaging 8.9 points per game (shooting 41.3% from the field and 34.4% from three-point line), earning her 25th place in the Patriot League.
Ericson values West Point for its balance of athletics, leader development, and academics. Not only did she earn her place on the Dean’s list for her exceptional academic performance last semester, but she also achieved a notable cumulative Military Program Score (MPSC) of 3.7. This MPSC is indicative of Ericson’s natural propensity to lead. She leads with empathy and respect, always putting the needs of her teammates first, both on the Women’s Basketball team and in her academic year company, the H3 Hurricanes. Cadet Reese Ericson is the epitome of a Scholar-Athlete-Leader!
Men’s Basketball
Chris Mann ’23
CDT Chris Mann, a senior and starting captain on the Army West Point Men’s Basketball Team, has emerged as one of the team’s leaders on and off the court. In the off-season, his teammates elected him to be a co-captain. Through 15 games, Chris is second in scoring (13.4 points per game), rebounding (4.6 rebounds per game), and steals (10 total steals). Additionally, he has made his presence felt on the defensive end by being third in blocks (five total blocks). In Army’s Patriot League opener, Chris Mann made a clutch go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to defeat Lehigh University 80-78. A few days later, he scored 10 points and led the team with six assists in an 82-65 win versus Lafayette University, moving Army to 2-0 in the hotly contested Patriot League. His leadership and ability have contributed to the team’s early league success. His on-court confidence, leadership in the huddle, and work ethic in practice and during games clearly inspire his teammates.
In addition to his athletic contributions, Chris has been performing exceptionally well in the classroom. Chris earned a 3.646 QPA in 2023-1, raising his cumulative academic performance score to 3.373. Within his Engineering Management major, he currently has a cumulative academic performance of 3.808! His consistent demonstration of academic excellence is evidenced by earning recognition on the Dean’s List every semester at the Academy. His preparedness, organization, and engagement in class are professional examples for all cadets to emulate.
CDT Chris Mann continues to work hard on developing his military leadership skills. He consistently receives positive comments from his instructors, chain of command, peers, and subordinates about his exceptional work ethic, outstanding personal discipline and self-control, and exemplary commitment to duty performance. Chris also displays an abundance of empathetic leadership and emotional intelligence, which is why he was hand-selected by his TAC Team to serve as the ACT-T Representative for his company. This position serves as the trusted peer support counselor for cadets. His interpersonal tact and humility set a tremendous example for others.
Head Coach Jimmy Allen adds, “Chris Mann is the total package as a Cadet-athlete. He always strives to do the next right thing to the best of his ability. He has been an excellent leader as one of only two seniors in our program this year. Always looking to set a positive example for the younger guys in our program.”