Hayden, Jones Named To PBC Basketball All-Academic Team

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Senior guard Parker Hayden from the No. 25-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team and junior guard Portia Jones from the Lady Pirate women's basketball team have each been named to their respective 2009 Peach Belt Conference Basketball All-Academic Teams, released by the league.

The teams are part of a new season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.

Hayden was named to the men's basketball second team after compiling a 3.68 GPA in economics in his fourth year with the Pirates. The Raleigh, N.C., native has been a three-time PBC Presidential Honor Roll honoree in his career and is the only fourth-year senior on the NCAA Regional participant Pirates this season.

Jones, meanwhile, was named to the women's basketball third team after compiling a 3.23 GPA in psychology in her second year as a Lady Pirate. The Savannah native averaged a career-high 7.6 points per game this season and hit 39 three-pointers in playing in all 28 games for AASU.