NEW YORK, N.Y.- College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced its 2025-26 Academic All-District Team on Tuesday with Kennedy DeRuy, Makkedah Murray and Wanhua Peng each earning a spot to represent the Hunter College women's basketball team.
The accolades come after a successful season for the Hawks, winning the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) championship for the first time since the 2018-19 season, and earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Murray boasts a 3.69 cumulative GPA as an environmental studies major. The senior will join a fellowship program for wetland conservation following graduation as she pursues a career in marine studies. Murray started all 28 games and averaged 26.5 minutes per contest, contributing 7.3 points per game on 33.5% shooting from the field. She added 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 79.5% from the free-throw line. Murray also totaled 52 steals and 10 blocks, finishing with 204 points on the season.
DeRuy, a media studies major, has maintained a 3.556 GPA over her career. She has interned at Madison Square Garden with the New York Rangers and plans to pursue a career in sports media following graduation. DeRuy also started all 28 games, averaging 23.9 minutes and 6.1 points per game. She shot 33.8% from the field and 25.0% from 3-point range, while adding 4.1 rebounds per contest. Defensively, she recorded 36 steals and eight blocks, finishing with 172 points on the season.
Peng holds a 3.833 GPA as a junior nutrition major. She appeared in all 28 games off the bench, averaging 12.1 minutes and 4.0 points per contest. Peng shot 36.3% from the field, 32.3% from 3-point range and 80.0% from the free-throw line. She added 2.6 rebounds per game, along with 18 blocks and 17 steals, totaling 112 points on the season.
"The work these three put in every day is a reflection of what our program stands for," head coach John Garrett said. "Balancing the demands of a college basketball season with success in the classroom is not easy, and Kennedy, Makkedah and Wanhua have embraced that challenge. We're incredibly proud of how they represent Hunter both on and off the court."
The Academic All-District Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
To be eligible for CSC Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.50 grade-point average, be a sophomore, junior or senior, and be a starter or significant reserve.
Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced April 15.
