TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Griff Minor and Kelvin Reese collected their second athletic and academic award of the week when the Southern States Athletic Conference announced the duo to the 2023 Barnes & Noble College Baseball Scholar-Athlete Team. The award is nominated and selected by SSAC sports information directors. 

This is Reese's second year being named to the elite team and the first selection for Minor.

Both players were named to the Academic All-District® Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, on May 16. The SSAC award is a conference model of the CSC honor, highlighting starters or key reserve players who have played in 50% of competitions and completed at least 24 hours with a 3.3 grade point average or higher. The CSC honor raises the bar to a 3.5 GPA and 12 months of enrollment at the institution.

Minor, a sophomore from Helena, Alabama, has a 3.950 GPA while majoring in criminal justice. He is a recipient of both the Presidential Scholarship and the George Floyd Endowed Scholarship, while also representing Stillman in the National Society of Leadership and Success. On the field, he appeared in 38 games, starting 33, for Stillman baseball in 2023. He hit .330 as designated hitter with a .429 slugging percentage and .443 on base percentage. He had 30 total hits, including four doubles, one triple and one home run. He produced 21 RBIs and scored 18 runs. Minor also pitched 51 innings, recording four wins and striking out 33. He was a 2022 SSAC All-Freshman selection.

Reese, a junior from Montgomery, Alabama, has a 3.90 GPA. A psychology major, he is a member of Psi Chi honor society and a Presidential Scholarship recipient. On the field in 2023, Reese started 27 of 29 games played in left field. He hit .324 with a .507 slugging percentage and .489 on base percentage. His 23 hits, including six doubles, two triples and a home run, helped produce 16 RBIs and 21 runs scored. He stole 13 bases. Through his career, he was a 2022 SSAC Gold Glove winner and was a two-time selection to the HBCU All-Star Game, including being named the HBCU All-Star Game MVP as a freshman in 2021. 

Stillman has received eight selections to SSAC 2022-2023 Barnes & Noble College Scholar-Athlete Teams and 13 selections over the past two seasons.

William Carey's RJ Stinson repeats as the 2023 Barnes & Noble College Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The junior physical education major posted a 4.0 GPA in the classroom and was named SSAC Baseball Player of the Year on the field. 

2023 SSAC Baseball Scholar-Athlete Team
Jack Brinkley, Faulkner (Ala.)
Kason Cullins, Loyola (La.)
Tucker Ganley, Loyola (La.)
Easton Rainer, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Jake Lycette, William Carey (Miss.)
RJ Stinson, William Carey (Miss.)
Sean Mason, Mobile (Ala.)
Ryan Wilson, Middle Georgia State
Griff Minor, Stillman (Ala.)
Kelvin Reese, Stillman (Ala.)