Former North Stanly graduate named 2019 SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

(Photo courtesy of Newberry College)

ALBEMARLE –– For the second straight year, a former North Stanly Comet has been named the 2019-20 South Atlantic Conference mens basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. 

Luke Gibson, a senior accounting major at Newberry College and Albemarle native, was given the honor  an award he also received last year — after he garnered the highest vote tally by the SACs Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee on April 15. 

Last month, Gibson was named to the 2019-20 Google Cloud Academic All-American Team as a third-team selection for mens basketball, holding the second-highest grade point average (3.97) off all selections. He was also awarded 2020 Google Cloud Academic All-District First Team honors. 

In addition to being named to the deanlist each semester at Newberry, Gibson is a three-time SAC Commissioners Honor Roll selection, a College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America honoree and a CoSIDA Academic All-District pick. The Academic All-America program receives financial support from the NCAA Division II national governance structure. 

On the court, Gibson is coming off his best season as a guard for Newberry College, where he led his conference in 3-point shooting percentage (46.3%) and put up career-high numbers of 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  

He played in all 29 games for the Wolves in 2019-20 while notching a careerhigh of 23 points in his final game of the season. In all four years with the team, Gibson increased his season point total, minutes per game and 3-point percentage. 

Another factor that the SACs Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee takes into consideration for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is the demonstration of community service, an area where Gibson has also excelled during his collegiate experience.  

He has served as a referee-coach for the Law Enforcement & Youth Basketball Tournament, volunteered with the Special Olympics basketball teams in Newberry and has dedicated time to assisting at the Newberry Academy Spanish Academy. 

With his latest award, Gibson has become the first two-time Academic All-American selection for Newberrys mens basketball as well as the 29th overall selection for Newberry.