Kansas junior Cole Aldrich has been named the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Basketball Academic All-American of the Year, it was announced. 

Aldrich becomes the 18th student-athlete in Big 12 history to win the honor for their respective sport, and second in the history of the league to win the honor in men’s basketball (Jacque Vaughn, KU, 1996-97).  Prior to the formation of the Big 12 in 1996-97, a total of 16 additional standouts were named winners of the top academic honor in their sports since the program began in 1987-88.

Aldrich is the third Big 12 men’s basketball player in the last five years to earn Academic All-America honors and the ninth overall.  He is also the 14th Jayhawk to be chosen for the Academic All-America First Team and the first since Ryan Robertson in 1999.

Earlier this month Aldrich, a communication studies major, was tabbed to the academic all-district team.  Last season he was an Academic All-Big 12 Second Team selection.

“As I have said one of my goals coming back to Kansas was to succeed academically,” Aldrich said.  “Making the academic all-district team and then the All-America team were both special.  To be named the Academic All-American of the Year is incredible.”

“This is a young man who came back to school for all of the right reasons,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “For him to accomplish this just proves how hard he has worked in the classroom. This is an honor he will cherish long after his playing days are through.”

On the court, Aldrich is averaging 11.6 points and 10.1 rebounds while starting all 27 games this season.  The 6-11 center has recorded a school single-season record 103 blocks this year, while shooting 55.8 percent from the field.

The Preseason Big 12 Co-Player of the Year has earned two Big 12 Player of the Week honors in 2009-10 for the No. 1 Jayhawks.

Joining Aldrich on the Academic All-America First Team were Tim Abromaitis of Notre Dame, Patrick Foley of Columbia, Matt Howard of Butler and Yves Mekongo of La Salle.