ROCK HILL, S.C. — Tusculum University’s Bryce Jackson has been awarded the South Atlantic Conference’s McGriff Insurance Services Minority Postgraduate Scholarship, league officials announced Tuesday. Lincoln Memorial wrestler Stephanie Castro was the female recipient of this prestigious honor.
“The SAC is very thankful for the continued support of McGriff Insurance for these scholarships,” said Commissioner Patrick Britz. “Allowing student-athletes a chance to further their education is a key goal of our strategic plan. Bryce and Stephanie are very deserving of this scholarship and the SAC is very proud of their academic and athletic achievements and wish them the best in their postgraduate studies.”
“We are proud to be able to continue our support of these outstanding student-athletes as they further their education,” said Dan Nunnery, Senior Vice President of McGriff Insurance. “We are committed to supporting the SAC and all of its student-athletes.”
Jackson, a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a member of TU’s men’s basketball team where he has been a two-year starter. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, President’s List, Dean’s List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in just three years, graduating with summa cum laude honors while majoring in sport management and finished with a 3.98 cumulative grade point average.
Jackson earned All-SAC third team honors this past season where he led the Pioneers in scoring averaging 18.6 points per game, which ranked sixth in the conference and 61st in the country. He started in all 28 games where he scored in double figures on 25 occasions including 12 times with 20 or more points and two outings with 30-plus points. He scored a career-best 35 points against Limestone University where he tied the school single-game record with 28 field goal attempts.
Defensively, Jackson was listed amongst the conference leaders in steals, averaging 1.75 per game which ranked him fourth in the SAC. He also led the team in minutes played (33.33 mpg – 10th in SAC), field goals made (176 – 9th in SAC), field goal attempts (401, 4th in SAC), free throws made (130 – 5th in SAC), free throw attempts (171 – 5th in SAC), total steals (49 – 8th in SAC) and total points (520 – 9th in SAC). He also averaged 5.6 rebounds per game and shot 76 percent from the free throw line.
He was named to the 2025 NCAA Division II Academic All-America Men’s Basketball third team as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC). In 2024, he was the recipient of the SAC Men’s Basketball Elite 23 Award and the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.
The McGriff Insurance Services Minority Postgraduate Scholarships are awarded to SAC minority student-athletes who excel academically and athletically. Both Jackson and Castro will receive a one-time, non-renewable scholarship of $3,000 toward the graduate school of their choice.
