PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers University student-athletes Geo Baker of men's basketball and Taralyn Naslonski of women's lacrosse were named the recipients of the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor.
 
This year marks the 108th anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who have demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence.
 
"I am so proud of Geo Baker for being the Rutgers recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor," said Rutgers men's basketball head coach Steve Pikiell. "He is the first men's basketball player at Rutgers to win the award and my first player to receive this honor. Geo has been an exemplary ambassador for our program on and off the court and it couldn't have been given to a better person. I am truly grateful to have coached Geo for the past five seasons at Rutgers and he has a bright future in whatever he decides to pursue in his career after college basketball. Geo will forever be a part of the Rutgers basketball family."
 
Baker averaged 12.0 points-per-game, 3.9 assists per game and shot 39.1 percent from the field as the Rutgers men's basketball team collected the most wins since joining the Big Ten and posted its highest conference finish since the 1990-91 season. The Scarlet Knight finished his career second all-time in assists (496), fifth all-time in three-pointers made (237), fourth all-time in steals (180), eighth all-time in points (1,654) and eighth all-time in field goals made (599). Baker was the first and only men's basketball Scarlet Knight to earn two Big Ten Player of the Week awards and became one of the first three-time all-conference selections since 1978-79 with Third Team All-Big Ten honors.
 
"What an absolute honor for TT to win the Big Ten Medal of Honor, our program's first-ever recipient," said Rutgers women's lacrosse head coach Melissa Lehman. "TT bleeds Scarlet and I could not be more proud of her for the impact she has had in elevating our program on the national level."
 
Naslonski finished her career as the most prolific scorer in Rutgers women's lacrosse history. A consensus Second Team All-American by the IWLCA and Honorable Mention All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine and IL Women, First Team IWLCA All-Region, First Team All-Big Ten selection and IWLCA Senior All-Star Game selection, Naslonski set new Scarlet Knight records for career points (226) and goals (187). During the 2022 season, she set the RU record for points in a single season (90) while her 22 points in four career NCAA Tournament games made her the top postseason scorer in Rutgers history. Her performance on the field helped the Scarlet Knights to its best season in program history with its highest ranking to date at No. 10 in the final IWLCA Poll and a team-best 16 victories. Altogether Naslonski and the Scarlet Knights topped six nationally-ranked teams, advanced to the Big Ten Tournament Final and produced its second-consecutive NCAA Tournament opening-round victory with a win over No. 23 Saint Joseph's.
 
All-Time Rutgers Big Ten Medal Of Honor Scarlet Knights
2022: Geo Baker (men's basketball) & TT Naslonski (women's lacrosse)
2021: Kieran Mullin (men's lacrosse) & Gianna Glatz (field hockey) 
2020: Jordan Pagano (wrestling) & Amanda Visco (women's soccer) 
2019: Anthony Ashnault (wrestling) & Sarah Johanek (rowing) 
2018: Michael Rexrode (men's lacrosse) & Casey Murphy (women's soccer) 
2017: Ken Theobold (wrestling) & Alyssa Bull (field hockey) 
2016: Corey Crawford (men's track & field) & Brianne Reed (women's soccer)
2015: David Milewski (football) & Betnijah Laney (women's basketball) 
 
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