Lincoln Memorial's Rankin Named 2022-23 South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lincoln Memorial's Chase Rankin was voted the 2022-23 South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced today.
The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service, and leadership.
Rankin, a graduate student guard, is a Master of Business Administration major with a 3.78 grade point average. He was a Deans List honoree every semester at Lincoln Memorial and was named to the 2022-23 CSC Academic All-District team. Rankin graduated with a bachelor's degree in business cum laude.
"I'm extremely excited and happy for Chase to receive this honor and recognition," said Lincoln Memorial head men's basketball coach Jeremiah Samarrippas. "There hasn't been a more deserving student-athlete in the history of our basketball program. Chase continues to be a model student-athlete, he values his success in the classroom equally as much as his performance on the court. Chase is a great ambassador for our community, university and the South Atlantic Conference."
A First Team All-SAC selection, he averaged 12.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. Rankin shot 51.6 percent on field goals and 44.6 percent on three-pointers and recorded a triple-double on February 8th versus Emory & Henry. He was named 2022-23 D2CCA Second Team All-Region and appeared on the Bevo Francis Top 100 and Top 50 Watch Lists, presented to the player in small college basketball with the finest overall season. On January 16thhe was voted the SAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week.
In addition to his success on the basketball court and in the classroom, the Columbus, Ohio native has been an active member of the community. Rankin worked as a camp counselor for Buckeye Prep, Gahanna Lincoln Summer Basketball Camp, and LMU Summer Camp. He has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club, Elementary School Reading Program, and Diversity Student Initiatives at Purdue Northwest prior to transferring to Lincoln Memorial. Rankin was also a member of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission on Black Male Success Listening Tour for the past three years.
SAC Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Finalists
Chase Rankin, Lincoln Memorial
Ben Gahlert, Limestone
Bradley Dean, UVA Wise
Camden McElhaney, Carson-Newman
Gabe Brown, Emory & Henry
Kobe Funderburk, Tusculum
Mason Carver, Anderson
Michael Bagnasco, Wingate
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