D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Teams

La Crosse, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse junior guard Sam Grieger of Randolph (H.S.) have been named to the 2025-26 D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Team, the organization announced Thursday. He is one of five players selected to the All-America Second Team. 

Voted to the 2024-25 D3hoops.com All-Region 9 Second Team, Grieger was also selected to the 2024-25 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 9 First Team. He earned 2024-25 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) First Team accolades. 

He was the lone player from the WIAC to be named to this year's D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Team.

Grieger started all 31 games last year and became the fifth player in school history to be named to the NABC All-District First Team, joining Joe Werner (2006; 2007), Tony Mane (2011), Jared Staege (2016) and Ethan Anderson (2022). Grieger led the UWL in scoring (15.9) and assists (2.7) while ranking second in rebounding (5.4), steals (1.2) and blocks (0.9).
 
Scoring in double figures in 26 contests last season, Grieger had a career-high 30 points at UW-Stevens Point and versus Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Elite Eight. He averaged 19.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in four NCAA contests.
 
Grieger was second for UWL in field goal shooting at 51.2% (185-of-361) while shooting 34.6% (27-of-78) from three-point range and 77.9% (95-of-122) at the free throw line. He led the team in field goals made and attempted while ranking fourth in three-point field goals made (27) and attempted (78). Grieger was second in free throws made (95) and attempted (122).
 
He recorded three double-doubles a year ago. Grieger had 24 points and 10 rebounds at UW-Platteville; 18 points and 10 rebounds at UW-Eau Claire and 12 points with 10 rebounds at UW-Oshkosh. He was selected the WIAC Athlete of the Week after the double-doubles versus UW-Platteville and UW-Oshkosh.
 
He earned D3hoops.com Team of the Week honors on January 13 after averaging 22.0 points, 3.0 assists and two rebounds in a pair of games. Grieger finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal versus UW-Platteville and followed with 30 points and three assists against UW-Stevens Point.
 
Grieger finished in the top-10 in seven categories in the WIAC last year, including fifth in blocks; sixth in scoring and assists; seventh in field goal shooting; eighth in free throw shooting and rebounding; and ninth in steals.
 
UWL finished 25-6 overall and 12-2 in the WIAC last season under head coach JT Gritzmacher. The Eagles set a single-season school record with 25 victories. UWL's 12 league wins were the most since finishing 12-4 in 2006-07. It is the second time since 1982-83 the Eagles won at least 11 conference games in a season.
 
UWL earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championships, advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. 

The Eagles opens their 2025-26 season Saturday, November 7 against Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) in the TowneBank Tipoff Tournament hosted by Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. UWL's home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, November 26 hosting Saint John's University (Minn.) at 3 p.m.