Kansas junior Cole Aldrich has been named to the 2010 CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 basketball team, it was announced.

In being named academic all-district, Aldrich will now appear on the national ballot for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. The last Big 12 player to be named Academic All-America was D.J. Augustin of Texas in 2007-08, who was chosen for the first team.

“This has been one of my goals ever since I said I was coming back after last year,” said Aldrich, a communication studies major who was a 2009 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team selection and improved his grade point average to become eligible for Academic All-America. “Not only do I want to graduate, but also want to do well in the classroom. I want to show people the stereotype that basketball players or athletes are just in it for the sport is not true.”

A 6-11 center from Bloomington, Minn., Aldrich is one of three Big 12 players to average a double-double with 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He is second in the conference and ranks in the top 10 nationally in blocked shots with 3.6 per contest.

Joining Aldrich on the CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 team are Devon Beitzel of Northern Colorado, Graham Hatch of Wichita State, Ryan Staudacher of Montana and Adam Templeton of Drake.