Mike Gesell

Classroom

Mike Gesell graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in finance in three years and is taking leisure studies graduate classes during his final year of eligibility. He was recognized as a 2015 Capital One third-team Academic All-American, first-team All-District and Academic All-Big Ten. In the fall of 2014, Gesell earned an invitation to Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Scholastic Honor Society for business students at the University of Iowa who have garnered GPAs that place them in the top 10 percent of their class. He is a 2015 NABC Academic Honors Court honoree and was honored as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Gesell earned Dean’s List distinction his last four semesters (2013-2015). He also earned the team’s Academic Award the last two seasons. He was a 2014 Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and this past summer, Gesell interned at a local financial advising company.

Character

The Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner in 2015, Gesell is heavily involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and helps lead a weekly Bible study with his other teammates. He also helps young, aspiring basketball players each summer at summer camps teaching them fundamentals and what it takes to be a collegiate basketball player and do things the right way. The kids look up to Gesell witnessing firsthand his positive attitude, determination and hard work.

Community

Gesell is actively involved with frequent visits to children at the UI Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Gesell talks with the children, signs autographs, reads books and takes photos with the patients. Gesell also participates in Iowa’s Day of Caring each spring. The last three years, Gesell and his teammates have helped non-profit organizations in certain clean-up projects around the community.

Competition

Gesell is a three-year starter at point guard directing the team to three post-season appearances (2013 NIT runner-up, 2014 NCAA First Round and 2015 Third Round). Gesell entered his senior season ranked eighth in Iowa career assists (352). His 135 assists as a junior are the sixth-best by an Iowa junior in program history. Through his first three seasons, he had scored in double figures 38 career times: 14 times as a freshman, 14 as a sophomore and 10 as a junior. Gesell is one of three Hawkeyes to ever amass 800+ points, 350+ assists, 200+ rebounds and 100+ steals prior to his senior year. Gesell is the only Hawkeye freshmen to post 295+ points, 85+ rebounds and 85+ assists in a single-season. As a sophomore in 2014, he led the Big Ten and ranked 13th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0). He collected 40 steals, which tied as the sixth-most by an Iowa freshman in school history. Gesell shot at a 31.7 percent clip from 3-point range, a percentage that ranks 10th-best by a Hawkeye rookie. He also shared the team’s Freshman of the Year Award in 2013.