Tusculum's Gibson Named South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Tusculum's Trenton Gibson was voted the 2020-21 South Atlantic Conference men's basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced today. 

Gibson, a junior from Murfreesboro, N.C., is a sports management major with a 3.96 GPA. The 2020-21 SAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Gibson was the only player in the SAC to be ranked in the top-five in scoring (third), rebounding (third), and assists (fourth). He averaged 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. The 2019 SAC Freshman of the Year and 2020 SAC Elite 20 Award winner, Gibson scored 20 or more points on seven occasions this season including a career-high 31 points against UVA Wise. In addition to being named Player of the Year, Gibson was also a first team All-SAC selection.

"Trenton is a perfect example of the ideal student-athlete," said Tusculum head men's basketball coach JT Burton. "His work ethic on the basketball court is only surpassed by his efforts in the academic arena. He leads by example in all facets of his life. As a coach, you can't ask or hope for a better representative of your team, but also your university and conference. I am very proud of Trenton and congratulate him on this outstanding achievement." 

A top-level academic student-athlete, Gibson is a three-time Charles Oliver Gray Honors List selection, a three-time Dean's List honoree, and a three-time Tusculum President's List selection. He was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Men's Basketball First Team in 2019-20, is a two-time Division II Athletic Directors Association Honor Roll selection, is a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society, and has been named to the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll and SAC Commissioner's Honor three times.

In addition to his success on the basketball court and in the classroom, Gibson has been an active member of the community. He volunteers at the Nettie Day of Service, is a member of the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and is a Pioneer Peer serving as a mentor for incoming freshmen. He volunteers as a youth basketball coach with the Above the Rim program and has served as a sports management intern within the Tusculum Athletic department for the last year.

SAC Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Finalists

Alex Dahling, Lincoln Memorial
Darius Simmons, Lenoir-Rhyne
Michael Fowler, Queens
Robin Bedford, Newberry

- #MakeSACYours –