Tweet #theGAC  RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. –  On Friday, the Great American Conference announced the 12 student-athletes nominated for the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

Administrators from the 12 member institutions will vote on the following nominees to determine the overall conference honoree.

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY: Jack Grissom (Football)
Major: Masters - Business Administration || GPA: 4.00
Hometown: Eads, Tennessee

• College Sports Communications Academic All-District

• Three-time GAC All-Academic selection

• Threw for 1,454 yards and completed 61.5 percent of his passes

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT MONTICELLO: Josh Denton (Basketball)
Major: Business || GPA: 3.95
Hometown: Maumelle, Arkansas

• Academic All-GAC selection

• Finished second in GAC in 3-point field goal percentage

• Ranked eighth in 3-point field goals

EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY: Justin Chitty (Baseball)
Major: Business Administration - Marketing || GPA: 3.86
Hometown: Choctaw, Oklahoma

• Fall 2022 Dean’s Honor Roll

• D2 ADA All-Academic Team

• Finished with eighth-most appearances in ECU history

HARDING UNIVERSITY: Cody Smith (Baseball)
Major: Management and Business Ethics || GPA: 3.97/4.00
Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Two-time College Sports Communications Academic All-American

• Three-time College Sports Communications Academic All-District

• Went 19-for-20 on stolen base attempts; set school's career record for triples

HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY: Greyson Stevens (Baseball)
Major: MBA/Pre-Physical Therapy || GPA: 3.625/3.97
Hometown: Pottsville, Arkansas

• Two-time College Sports Communications Academic All-American

• Two-Time GAC Elite Scholar Athlete

• Reddies’ all-time leader in hits, RBI, runs, home runs, doubles, total bases and games played

NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY: Zachary Cox (Cross Country)
Major: Biology || GPA: 3.95
Hometown: Blanchard, Oklahoma

• President’s Honor Roll

• Vice President’s Honor Roll

• Two-time GAC Runner of the Week

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY: Jake Hamilton (Baseball)
Major: Natural Science || GPA: 3.67
Hometown: Asher, Oklahoma

• College Sports Communications Academic All-District

• OBU Spring Academic Honor Roll

• Ranked fourth in the GAC with 99 strikeouts

OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY: G. Allen (Baseball)
Major: Christian Studies || GPA: 3.97
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

• First-Team College Sports Communications Academic All-American

• GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete

• Honorable Mention D2CCA All-American; led Tigers in average, home runs and stolen bases

SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY: Trent Zorgdrager (Golf)
Major: Finance || GPA: 3.85
Hometown: Stratford, Ontario, Canada

• Magna Cum Laude with Bachelor’s of Business Administration 

• 2022 and 2023 AD Honor Roll

• Honorable Mention All-GAC Selection

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY: Briston Rains (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Major: Business Administration - Marketing || GPA: 3.96
Hometown: Gainsville, Texas

• 2023 Most Outstanding Student in Rankin College of Business Marketing

• Three-time GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete

• First Place 2023 Arkansas Future Business Leaders of America - Public Speaking/Impromptu Speaking

SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY: Gage Porter (Football)
Major: Masters Business Administration|| GPA: 3.70
Hometown: Elk City, Oklahoma

• 4.00 GPA in Master’s program

• Second-Team All-American and Super Region #3 Offensive Player of the Year

• Finished in top three in Division II in total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns

SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY: Mason Hart (Basketball)
Major: Engineering Physics || GPA: 3.90
Hometown: Pond Creek, Oklahoma

• 2022 GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete

• D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award winner

• Member of “Rocket Dawgs” an on campus high-powered rocketry team

The winners for Athlete and Scholar Athlete of the Year will be announced during the first week of July.