Ryan Jolly Named 2024 CCS Man of the Year

7/12/2024 3:00:00 PM | By: Joseph Garwood: Director of Athletic Communications

DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont men's basketball's Ryan Jolly has been named the 2023-24 Collegiate Conference of the South Man of the Year, the league office announced Friday afternoon.

Jolly becomes the second Lion in a row to take home Man of the Year honors, as men's golfer Fred Roberts IV earned the honor in the league's inaugural season in 2022-23.

"It is a tremendous honor to recognize this year's CCS Man and Woman of the Year recipients along with the impressive slate of nominees. I remain amazed at the tremendous success and dedication these student-athletes display and the inspiring example they set for their campus and communities," said CCS Commissioner Beth Vansant. "Congratulations to Ryan Jolly and Kennedy Carruth, along with the nominees, for their remarkable accomplishments and setting such a high bar for excellence within our conference."

Jolly's special season began early, as the graduate student scored at least 22 points in the team's first four games, including a 33-point performance in the season opener against nationally-ranked Emory. He was nearly perfect in a December win over Bob Jones, going 6-of-7 from the field, 3-of-3 from long range and 5-of-5 from the free throw line and eclipsing the 1,000 career point mark in the process

Overall, Jolly had 17 games with 20 or more points including three with 30 or more. The Martinez, Georgia native found his way onto the Jostens Trophy Watch List, and eventually was one of 10 finalists for the prestigious honor.

The postseason awards continued to roll in for Jolly, who earned All-CCS First Team honors and was named to the D3hoops All-South Region Team for the second time in his career.