Smyrna Native Receives National Basketball Award

Belmont University men’s basketball junior and Smyrna native John "J.J." Mann has been named to the inaugural Allstate NABC Good Works Team, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Allstate Insurance Company announced this week.

Mann becomes the latest in a long tradition of Belmont University men’s basketball players to earn national recognition, not only for on-court success, but also for academic achievement, community service and civic engagement.

“On behalf of our entire staff, we would like to thank the NABC and Allstate for honoring J.J. in this way,” Belmont University men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd said. “As those who know him can attest, J.J. is an engaging person who simply loves helping people. He has a giving nature and undeniable spirit for life; he is a wonderful representative of our university and men’s basketball program.”

The 6-6 guard/forward is extremely active in the Nashville community, giving of his time to numerous outreach projects. Among them, Mann serves as a regular volunteer for the Best Buddies Program, a tutor and activities leader at area schools, a server at the Nashville Rescue Mission, and member of Belmont’s 2011 Sports Evangelism Mission Trip to Naples, Italy.

On campus, Mann holds a number of leadership positions, including men’s basketball representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), executive vice president of Belmont Ambassadors, team leader of Belmont’s division of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and member of Enactus – a non-profit organization committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

On the court, Mann has emerged as a passionate team leader and consistent performer. Mann has 14 double figure scoring games this season, averaging 10.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Smyrna, Ga. native ranks among the Ohio Valley Conference leaders in steals per game, assists per game, three-point field goals per game and three-point field goal percentage.

The award recognizes a unique group of men’s and women’s college basketball student-athletes who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement including building homes for the elderly, leading basketball clinics, reading to students and working with children with hearing disabilities. 

“The men and women being recognized with this award have demonstrated a commitment to excellence on and off the court,” said Pam Hollander, senior director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2013 NABC and WBCA Good Works Team selection panels.  “Allstate commends these student-athletes for their contributions and are very proud to introduce the inaugural NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams.”

From the nominations, two voting panels headlined by former University of Arizona student-athlete, five-time NBA champion and college basketball analyst Steve Kerr, and former University of Tennessee star and 2012 WNBA championship team member Tamika Catchings, selected two 10-member teams – each featuring five student-athletes from the NCAA Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA.

Joining Mann on the Allstate NABC Good Works Team for NCAA Division I are Langston Galloway of Saint Joseph’s University, Jakob Gollon of Mercer University, Peyton Siva of the University of Louisville, and Tyler Thornton of Duke University.

Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2013 NABC Convention and 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Atlanta, where they will participate in a community project in the city. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.