AUSTIN, Texas – UNC Pembroke senior men's basketball player Ben Jacobs added a distinctive notch to his collegiate resume on Wednesday as the Four Oaks native was among 15 student-athletes nationwide selected as part of the 2014-15 Capital One Academic All-America® Division II Men's Basketball Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced.

Jacobs becomes the first player in the history of the men's basketball program to be decorated with the honor and is one of just 12 student-athletes in the history of the UNCP athletics department to earn the accolade as well. Jacobs maintains a Peach Belt Conference-best 3.98 cumulative grade point average as an exercise & sports science major at UNCP.

The laurel is widely considered to be the most prestigious academic honor that can be bestowed upon a collegiate student-athlete. To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

Jacobs has played in 27 games (one start) this season and is averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as one of the nation's best sixth men. He boasts the conference's second-best field goal percentage (60.6) this season and has reached double-digit scoring in 19 contests, including a career-best 22 points in a win at Flagler on February 18. Jacobs also has a trio of double-double outings to his credit this year as well.

A four-year standout for the Black & Gold, Jacobs has played in 115 games (50 starts) over his career and is averaging 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game over his illustrious career in Pembroke. The recipient of the PBC's Elite 15 Award as a sophomore in 2012-13, he also earned Capital One Academic All-District laurels as both a sophomore and senior as well. He also became the 31st member of UNCP's 1,000-Point Club with a 15-point outing in a home win over Flagler in late January.

2014-15 Capital One Academic All-America® Division II Men's & Women's Basketball Teams