ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University men's basketball standouts Mason Carver and Parker Dortch have been named to the 2021-22 Academic All-District® Men's Basketball Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), early Thursday afternoon.
The team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
Carver has seen action in all 26 games this season, while starting 18 contests and is third on the team in field goal accuracy (51.9%), while averaging 6.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game.
The Lexington, S.C. native, has reached double-figure scoring in five games this season, while scoring at least 20 points in two contests, including a career-high 22 points at UVA Wise in early February. A 6-foot guard, Carver pulled down a season-high seven rebounds against Newberry and has dished out a career-best four assists on four occasions this season. Carver was instrumental in the Trojan's season-opening upset of then No. 2 ranked Flagler, scoring 13 points on 4-of-8 accuracy from the field.
Carver is a member of the AU Dean's List and a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He is majoring in Business Financial Analysis and owns a 3.96 GPA.
Dortch has drawn a starting nod in all 26 games this season and is second on the squad and 10th in the South Atlantic Conference with 15.3 points per game. He is also second on the squad and 28th in the league with 5.0 rebounds per contest. The graduate student from Columbus, N.J., has reached double-digit scoring in 17 games this season, while posting a pair of 30-point outings twice – against both Lander and Catawba.
A 6-goot-7 forward, Dortch has also reached the 20+ point plateau twice and notched a double-double in November against the Bearcats. He handed out a season-high three assists in the win over Lenoir-Rhyne and has swiped a season-high three steals three times.
Dortch is working on a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and carries a 3.66 GPA.
Joining Carver and Dortch from schools across South Carolina were Josh Aldrich (D-I USC Upstate), Owen McCormack (D-I Presbyterian College) and Ben Gahlert (Limestone).
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid-March.
The CoSIDA Academic All-District® teams are divided into geographic districts across the United States and Canada.
The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2020-21 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CoSIDA Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, have played in 50% of this season's games, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
NCAA DIVISION II – DISTRICT 3 (Conference Carolinas, Peach Belt, South Atlantic) FIRST TEAM
Name School Yr. GPA Major
Blake Atwood King Jr. 3.81 Physics
Mason Carver Anderson Jr. 3.96 Business Financial Analysis
Parker Dortch Anderson Gr. 3.66/3.66 Organizational Leadership (G)
Ben Gahlert Limestone Jr. 4.00 Business Marketing/General and Honors
Trenton Gibson Tusculum Gr. 3.95/4.00 Sport Management (UG) / MBA (G)
Jordan Guest LMU Sr. 3.47 Management
Spencer Levi UNC Pembroke Sr. 3.55 Criminal Justice
Wesley Simpson Georgia College Sr. 3.57 Economics
Brian Sims Jr. Lees-McRae Sr. 3.98 History
