Benigni Earns All-District Honors
Navy's Austin Benigni has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District Team, the NABC announced today. Benigni was named to the East district's 10-player second team as he joined players from such schools as Virginia, Liberty, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Miami (Ohio) in being recognized by the organization.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy's
Austin Benigni has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District Team, the NABC announced today. Benigni was named to the East district's 10-player second team as he joined players from such schools as Virginia, Liberty, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Miami (Ohio) in being recognized by the organization.
Benigni is the first Mid to earn the laurel since Cam Davis garnered a first-team nod in 2021.
The 2026 Patriot League Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year ranks second in the Patriot League in points (18.0 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (44.4%) and minutes played (36:04), fourth in assists (4.4 apg) and is tied for 10th with an average of 1.8 three-point field goals made a game. Benigni scored in double figures in 31 of Navy's 33 games and reached 20 points in 14 games.
The Mids enter a Wednesday night (7 p.m., ESPNU) NIT first-round game at Wake Forest with an overall record of 26-7 and the outright winners of the Patriot League regular season with a 17-1 record. It is Navy's first postseason berth since 1998 and the program's first trip to the NIT since 1962.
2026 NABC All-East District Team
First Team
Zach Cleveland, Liberty
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
Delrecco Gillespie, Kent State
Amani Hansberry, Virginia Tech
Terrence Hill Jr., VCU
Honor Huff, West Virginia
Tavari Johnson, Akron
Peter Suder, Miami (OH)
Malik Thomas, Virginia
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Second Team
Austin Benigni, Navy
Javon Bennett, Dayton
Brant Byers, Miami (OH)
Javontae Campbell, Bowling Green
Tre Carroll, Xavier
Brett Decker Jr., Liberty
Lazar Djokovic, VCU
Chance Mallory, Virginia
Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Kory Mincy, George Mason
Navy's NABC All-District Honorees
1952 John Clune (HM)
1953 John Clune (HM), Don Lange (HM)
1954 John Clune (1st), Don Lange (1st)
1956 Dave Smalley (1st)
1958 Al Swanson (HM)
1960 Jay Metzler (2nd)
1979 Kevin Sinnett (1st)
1983 Dave Brooks (2nd)
1984 Vernon Butler (2nd)
1985 David Robinson (1st)
1986 David Robinson (1st), Vernon Butler (2nd)
1987 David Robinson (1st), Doug Wojcik (2nd)
1991 Erik Harris (2nd)
1998 Hassan Booker (2nd)
2000 Sitapha Savane (2nd)
2001 Chris Williams (2nd)
2009 Kaleo Kina (1st)
2010 Chris Harris (1st)
2021 Cam Davis (1st)
2026
Austin Benigni (2nd)