Academics Southern Conference

Mercer's Thompson, Ringer named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Team

MACON, Ga. – Mercer women’s basketball junior forward Amanda Thompson and Mercer men's basketball senior forward Desmond Ringer have been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District IV team, as announced by CoSIDA on Thursday afternoon.

To be eligible for the academic all-district teams, student-athletes must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average. Candidates must also complete at least one full academic year at the nominating institution and be at least sophomores athletically.

Thompson, an electrical engineering major, is now eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, which will be announced in March. The Academic All-America honors will feature first-, second- and third-team honorees. The Hayesville, N.C., native is the lone female SoCon representative to be named to the all-district team.

Thompson is averaging 7.1 points and a team-high 6.6 boards per game this season with two regular-season games left to play. Thompson has appeared and started in all 27 games for the Bears this season, guiding the team to a 25-2 overall record and a 22-game winning streak. Thompson aided Mercer in claiming a share of the 2018 SoCon regular-season title for the third consecutive season.

Ringer, a 6-9 senior from McDonough, Ga., has compiled a 3.90 grade point average while majoring in higher education. He has started all 29 games for the Bears this season and is averaging 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Ringer is shooting a team-best 61.2 percent from the field and currently the leading career field-goal shooter among active Southern Conference players at 59.9 percent. He is also hitting 82.9 percent of his free-throw attempts and his play has been instrumental in helping lead Mercer to its current six-game winning streak.  

Ringer is the first Mercer men's basketball player to be chosen to this squad since Will Emerson in 2005-06 and is the first under head coach Bob Hoffman. Ringer is also the first Southern Conference male player recognized since the 2015-16 season.