ROCK HILL, S.C. — Two Tusculum University men’s basketball student-athletes have earned South Atlantic Conference recognition with the announcement of the 2024-25 SAC Basketball Awards.
Junior guard Bryce Jackson was named to the All-SAC third team, while rookie guard Denaj Kimber earned a spot on the SAC All-Freshmen Team.
Jackson led the Pioneers in scoring this season as the Murfreesboro, Tennessee product averaged 18.6 points per game which ranks sixth in the league. He started in all 28 games where he scored in double figures on 25 occasions including 12 times with 20 points or more and two games with 30-plus points. He scored a career-best 35 points against Limestone in January where he tied a school single-game record with 28 field goal attempts.
Defensively, Jackson was amongst the conference leaders in steal averaging 1.75 per game which ranked fourth-best in the league. He also led the team in minutes played (33.33 mpg – 10th in SAC), field goals made (176 – 7th in SAC), field goal attempts (401, 2nd in SAC / 45th in NCAA II), free throws made (130 – 4th in SAC / 46th in NCAA II), free throw attempts (171 – 3rd in SAC / 46th in NCAA II) and total points (520 – 5th in SAC). He also averaged 5.6 rebounds per game and shot 76 percent from the free throw line.
Off the court, Jackson is an honors student and is scheduled to complete his undergraduate degree in May after three years majoring in Sport Management. He was named the 2024 SAC Men’s Basketball Elite 23 Award recipient last season. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List, President’s List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
Kimber, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, played in 22 games this year where he earned a spot in the starting line-up on 15 occasions. He averaged 9.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and finished seventh in the conference with his 1.68 steals per contest. Kimber scored in double figures on 10 occasions this year including a season-high 20 in a home win over Coke.r University in January. He led the Pioneers in assists dishing out 2.95 helpers per game (13th in SAC).
All-South Atlantic Conference Men’s Basketball Team
First Team
Wes Enis, Lincoln Memorial
Kendall Taylor, Wingate
Jack Browder, Carson-Newman
Elyjah Freeman, Lincoln Memorial
Ziare Wells, Lenoir-Rhyne
Bradley Dean, UVA Wise
Second Team
John Zhao, Carson-Newman
Trey Hubbard, Carson-Newman
Evan Ramsey, UVA Wise
Sirr Hughes, Limestone
Hantz Louis-Jeune, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kris Robinson, Catawba
Third Team
Conrad Luczynski, Lenoir-Rhyne
Nick Walker, Catawba
Bryce Jackson, Tusculum
Cole Middleton, Anderson
AJ Wright Jr., Anderson
Ian Blue, Coker
SAC All-Freshman Team
Elyjah Freeman, Lincoln Memorial
EJ Smith, Lincoln Memorial
Max Hurray, Coker
Denaj Kimber, Tusculum
Anderson Cummins, UVA Wise
SAC Player of the Year: Wes Enis, Lincoln Memorial
SAC Newcomer of the Year: Ziare Wells, Lenoir-Rhyne
SAC Freshman of the Year: Elyjah Freeman, Lincoln Memorial
SAC Defensive Player of the Year: Wes Enis, Lincoln Memorial
SAC Coach of the Year: Brent Owen, Lenoir-Rhyne
