Photo courtesy of JSCC
Jackson State Community College (JSCC) Baseball player Jacob Bryant has been awarded the prestigious Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) L. Quentin Lane Pinnacle Award.
Named after the late Dr. Lane, who was the league commissioner from 1998-2008, the Pinnacle award is presented to the student-athlete from each individual sport with the highest graduating GPA in TCCAA athletics.
Along with Brant, twenty other student-athletes were honored by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and TCCAA with the release of their respective 2023–24 All-Academic Teams lists, recognizing student-athletes across the state and country for their dedication in the classroom.
Over 12,000 student-athletes earned NJCAA academic honors for achieving an overall GPA of 3.60 or higher during the 2023-24 academic year with seven of those students being Jackson State Community College Green Jays.
“Our student-athletes are a cut above, both on the field and in the classroom,” said Dr. Kevin Lynum, JSCC Athletic Director. “Earning wins on the fields and A’s in the classroom is no easy feat, and I applaud our student-athletes for the hard work they have put in to earn a spot on these rosters. I look forward to seeing this number grow from this point forward as we strive for excellence as an athletic program.”
The 21 student-athletes from Jackson State Community College have exhibited a strong commitment to their academic pursuits while making significant contributions to their teams. This achievement reflects the college’s supportive environment, which enables students to thrive academically and athletically.
NJCAA assigns student-athletes based on their GPA to three different All-Academic teams. The criteria for each team are as follows:
- NJCAA All-Academic First Team: 4.00 GPA
- NJCAA All-Academic Second Team: 3.80-3.99 GPA
- NJCAA All-Academic Third Team: 3.60-3.79 GPA
TCCAA assigns student-athletes based on their GPA to three different academic teams. The criteria for each team are as follows:
- TCCAA Diamond Team: 4.00 GPA
- TCCAA First Team: 3.50-3.99 GPA
- TCCAA Second Team: 3.00-3.49 GPA
Green Jays receiving academic honors are:
- Jacob Bryant – NJCAA First, TCCAA Diamond, Baseball (Medina, TN)
- Jackson Hearn – NJCAA First, TCCAA Diamond, Baseball (Tiptonville, TN)
- Connell Hardin – NJCAA Second, TCCAA First, Baseball (Medina, TN)
- Caden Moore – NJCAA Third, TCCAA First, Baseball (Ripley, TN)
- Jason Hamm – NJCAA Third, TCCAA First, Baseball (Spring Hill, TN)
- Gracie Ausley – NJCAA Third, TCCAA First, Softball (Athens, AL)
- Kinsley Nichols – NJCAA Third, TCCAA First, Softball (Paris, TN)
- Kaden Senter – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Jackson, TN)
- Cade Steiner – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Clarksville, TN)
- Gavin Alston – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Memphis, TN)
- Harrison Freeman – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Jackson, TN)
- Garrett Taylor – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Clarksville, TN)
- Drake Blackwood – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Ethridge, TN)
- Kierstyn Beard – TCCAA Second, Women’s Basketball (Jackson, TN)
- Trey Gasser – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Ashland City, TN)
- Cade Spaulding – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Martin, TN)
- Kylon Joyner – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Memphis, TN)
- Owen Tiles – TCCAA Second, Men’s Basketball (Thompson Station, TN)
- Cory Francis – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Summertown, TN)
- Jackson Fredrick – TCCAA Second, Baseball (Germantown, TN)
- Ashlyn Berkley – TCCAA Second, Softball (Media, TN)
About the National Junior College Athletic Association
The NJCAA was founded in 1938 and is the governing association of community college, state college, and junior college athletics in the United States. 525 schools make up the association across 24 regions. Each year, the association recognizes student-athletes for their academic achievements, earning a 3.6 or higher overall GPA.
To learn more about Green Jay Athletics, view schedules and more, visit //jscc.edu/athletics
