University of Iowa men's basketball player Mike Gesell has had a busy collegiate career on the court, but the three-year starter has been just as busy off it.

On Dec. 7, Gesell was awarded two athletic scholarships—the Dr. Brent and Ellen Feller basketball scholarship and the Nile Kinnick Memorial Scholarship —for being one of the top academic performers in athletics.

"It shows my hard work," Gesell says. "I don't need the recognition, but at the same time, it's nice to get recognized. I am going to continue working hard and continue to keep my grades high because it's a very important thing."

Brent and Ellen Feller are long-time Hawkeye fans and contribute toward athletics in multiple ways. Along with their contributing to the men's basketball scholarship, they are the namesake of the Feller Club Room in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and have courtside seats, where they can see Gesell up close at every home game.

Growing up in a house full of business majors, Gesell found a passion for numbers and followed his family's footsteps at Iowa's Tippie College of Business.

"I love numbers," he says. "I decided to go the business route. My dad, brother, and sister all studied business in college. I picked finance, and I have loved all my classes so far."

Gesell's family stressed school first growing up, and even as a junior in college, he follows that same philosophy.

"My family pushed me hard," he says. "When I came home from school, my parents wouldn't let me hang out with friends until I finished my homework. That created a habit, and I still do that today. My parents are a big part of why I work so hard."

A junior eligibility-wise, Gesell has already taken enough credits to make him a senior academically. A sky-high grade point average and all the recognition in the world is not going to deter Gesell, who has his eyes set on going pro.

"My dream is to play basketball as long as I can," Gesell says. "That's what I have been working toward my whole life, and I would love to play professionally whether it's in the NBA or overseas. That's my ultimate goal, but at the same time, nothing is guaranteed, and that's why I work so hard in the classroom."