AMHERST, N.Y. -- Former Daemen University men's basketball guard Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) was named the 2025-26 Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) East Region Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the organization announced on Tuesday. Philipkoski is one of the eight men's regional winners in NCAA Division II and advances to the national ballot for consideration for the 2025-26 Men's Scholar Athlete of the Year. 

Philipkoski, the 2025-26 East Coast Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, earned All-American honors from both the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Division II Commissioners Conference Association (D2CCA) as well as becoming the second player in program history to be named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) NCAA Division II Academic All-America Team. Philipkoski also was named the 2026 East Coast Conference Player of the Year, NABC First Team All-District, D2CCA First Team All-East Region, East Region Tournament Most Outstanding Player and ECC All-Tournament Team honors over the 2025-26 season.

Philipkoski led the Wildcats with 17.8 points per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 41.9 percent beyond the arc. He ranked fourth in the ECC in points (17.8), seventh in rebounds (7.1) and assists (3.8), and eighth in steals (1.5). He led the team with 623 total points, marking the first 600+ point season for a Daemen player since Sischo's 665 in 2021-22. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with 213 field goals, moving himself into 10th all-time in the Daemen record books for single-season field goals. His 91 triples ranks third all-time. Philipkoski also set the single-season program record for free throw percentage (.876). He became just the fourth player in program history to total at least 500 points and 250 rebounds in a season, as well as becoming the eighth player in program history with at least 1,000 points, 400 rebounds and 200 assists. A Business Administration major, Philipkoski has maintained a 3.86 cumulative GPA. 

Following the 2025-26 season, Philipkoski followed former head coach Mike MacDonald to play Division I men's basketball at St. Bonaventure.