AUGUSTA, Ga. – Clayton State men's and women's basketball have combined to land three honorees on the 2019 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team as announced by the league earlier this week.
 
For women's basketball, graduate guard Kietta Saunders (Chicago, Ill.) and senior forward Jhade Hayes (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) each made the team while redshirt-senior guard Aubrey McRae (Augusta, Ga.) did so for the men's program. Saunders led the way with a 4.0 GPA in Marketing while McRae posted a 3.50 in Liberal Studies. Hayes made the squad with a 3.47 in Liberal Studies.
 
It is the first such honor for both Hayes and McRae, in their first year of eligibility, while Saunders collects her second in as many opportunities. Additionally, her 4.0 was the only one registered among the 32 total individuals from either the men's or women's selections.
 
In order to qualify for the Academic All-Conference Team, student-athletes must have been at their institution for one calendar year, have achieved a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale and competed in at least 50-percent of their sport as a significant contributor.
 
The GPA is calculated through the previous semester and an individual that is a graduate transfer to an institution other than where they earned their undergraduate degree is immediately eligible.

The Peach Belt Conference Basketball Academic All-Conference Teams are released close to the end of the regular season and before the conference championship. Clayton State men's and women's basketball returns to action on Saturday, February 23 when they travel to UNC Pembroke for 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. games, respectively.

2019 Peach Belt Conference Men's Basketball Academic All-Conference Team (8)
Aaron Byrd, Augusta
Jerod Carrier, Augusta
Codrin Cobzaru, Lander
T.J. Knight, Lander
Aubrey McRae, Clayton State
Chapin Rierson, Georgia College
Kyle Tackeberry, USC Aiken
Isaac Thomas, Georgia College

2019 Peach Belt Conference Women's Basketball Academic All-Conference Team (24)
Kyrie' Chandler, USC Aiken
Sydney Cleveland, Georgia College
Kierra Crane, Flagler
Brooke Dixon, Francis Marion
Rachel Dobbs, Young Harris
Erin Drynan, Georgia College
Jillian Ebron, UNC Pembroke
Kwajelin Farrar, USC Aiken
Abbie Franklin, North Georgia
Kara Groover, North Georgia
Jhade Hayes, Clayton State
Melanie Horne, UNC Pembroke
Avery Locklear, UNC Pembroke
Mylea McKenith, Lander
Mallory Myers, Augusta
Sara Reid, Young Harris
DeLayne Rotolo, Georgia College
Kietta Saunders, Clayton State
Haylie Shope, Young Harris
Amber Skidgel, North Georgia
Julianne Sutton, North Georgia
Tatiyana Rock, Flagler
Melyk Taouil, USC Aiken
Keyona Wesley, Georgia College