SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its December athletes of the month Thursday, highlighting excellence in men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling during the month.
 
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jake Stephens, Chattanooga, Gr., C, Bunker Hill, W.Va.

• Averaged 20.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.8 blocked shots and 3.9 assists per game in December, leading the league in the first three categories
• Shot 51.4 percent from the floor (57-for-111), 36.2 percent from 3-point range (17-for-47) and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line (36-for-42)
• Recorded four double-doubles in the month, scoring at least 20 points in each of them and surpassing 30 points in two
• Named SoCon Player of the Week three times in December and was named the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week on Dec. 20 after posting the first 30/20 game on record in program history with 32 points and 20 rebounds against Belmont on Dec. 18
• Is the only NCAA Division I player averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game this season

 
Others nominated: Austin Ash (The Citadel), Justice Smith (ETSU), Mike Bothwell (Furman), Jayln McCreary (Mercer), Mikeal Brown-Jones (UNCG), Logan Dye (Samford), Sean Conway (VMI), Vonterius Woolbright (Western Carolina) and B.J. Mack (Wofford)
 
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Jackie Carman, Wofford, 5th, G, Twinsburg, Ohio

• Averaged 16 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game as Wofford went 5-2 during the month with its only losses coming at No. 8 North Carolina and at Tennessee
• Scored in double figures in all seven games in December
• Recorded a season-high 22 points at Bellarmine on Dec. 17, becoming the 17th Terrier to score 1,000 points in her career
• Had a career-high five steals against Erskine on Dec. 31
• Moved into second place in Wofford history in made 3-pointers versus Erskine when she connected on her 170th shot from beyond the arc in her career

 
Others nominated: Jiselle Thomas (ETSU), Grace van Rij (Furman), Amoria Neal-Tysor (Mercer), Khalis Cain (UNCG), Andrea Bailey (Samford), Raven Thompson (Chattanooga) and Kyla Allison (Western Carolina)
 
 
WRESTLING
Taye Ghadiali, Campbell, R-Jr., 285, Warren, Mich.

• Went 4-0 in the month of December
• Defeated Virginia’s Jessie Knight on Dec. 4 in a dual meet with the Cavaliers
• Went 3-0 at the Purdue Duals on Dec. 12, including two 14-4 major decision wins over Drexel’s Santino Morina and Purdue’s Tristan Ruhlman
• Rose to No. 12 national ranking following his performance at the Purdue Duals
• Ended the month on a nine-match winning streak

 
Others nominated: Will Miller (App State), Cordel Duhart (Presbyterian), Rocky Jordan (Chattanooga) and Job Chishko (VMI)
 
 
Southern Conference December Athletes of the Month
Men’s basketball                                    Jake Stephens, Chattanooga
Women’s basketball                               Jackie Carman, Wofford
Wrestling                                               Taye Ghadiali, Campbell