INDIANAPOLIS – University of West Florida men's basketball student-athlete Justin Williams has been named to the 2016 Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® as announced by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Allstate Insurance Company.
 
Williams, a redshirt junior from Tallahassee, Fla. majoring in physics and mathematics, is one of a record 257 men's and women's nominees across NCAA and NAIA college basketball. He is one of just 48 non-Division I men's players recognized.
 
Williams spends 2-3 mornings a week in downtown Pensacola at the Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen serving breakfast to the homeless. He has been a steady volunteer for the last two years there where he has helped to serve local impoverished families breakfast with a side of hope.
 
In August of 2015, he participated in a mission trip to Nicaragua where his local church group visited orphanages in remote areas of the country where they spoke about their faith, discussed physical health & wellbeing and played games with the children. He is also the current vice president of the UWF Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
 
Earlier this semester, Williams and his teammates worked with the Miracle League of Pensacola to provide physically and mentally challenged children a safe and spirited program where they were able to hit, run, and catch on a baseball field – just like other kids.
 
This distinguished award shines a spotlight on a select group of student-athletes who have shown dedication to community service and altruism in their communities.
 
In its fourth year, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams^® recognize players at all levels of college basketball who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. From establishing nonprofits that provide youth with the necessary tools to become leaders of tomorrow, to raising awareness around pertinent issues that could save lives, these student-athletes exhibit impeccable leadership skills both on and off the court. 
 
The 154 NABC nominees and the 103 WBCA nominees were submitted by sports information directors and college basketball coaches across the country. From the nominations, special voting panels, headlined by former Duke University basketball athlete, two-time NCAA^® champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, and former University of Tennessee basketball athlete, NCAA champion and WNBA legend Tamika Catchings, will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA Division I level and five student-athletes from Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.
 
Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team^® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2016 NABC Convention and 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four^® in Houston, where they will participate in a community service project benefitting the city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team^® will be recognized during the 2016 WBCA Convention and at the 2016 NCAA Women's Final Four^® in Indianapolis, and will also participate in a local volunteer project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.