DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University senior utility player James Dey has been named to the 2016 Academic All-District Baseball First Team for District III as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday, May 5.

District III is comprised of schools within North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and Dey joins a list with 11 other student-athletes.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Jamie,” NCCU baseball head coach Jim Koerner said about Dey.  “He has worked very hard in the classroom and on the field.  This achievement is a culmination of four years of hard work.”

Dey carries a 3.84 GPA through seven semesters while majoring in History, and is also a member of the University Honors Program.  He earned a 4.0 GPA during the 2015 Fall semester, and during the 2016 Eddie Awards he garnered the Chancellor’s Award for highest GPA for a male student-athlete.  Over his career at NCCU, Dey has also been named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All-Academic Team twice, in 2014 and 2015.

Dey is having a breakout season at the plate, and he currently has his highest batting average in his career at .336 which leads NCCU and he is in the top-10 of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in slugging percentage at .493.  He has hit seven doubles and five home runs this season, and also collected his first career save in a 5-3 decision over Longwood University where he pitched two innings and struck out four batters.

The CoSIDA Academic All-District Baseball Teams recognize the top student-athletes in the nation for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.  To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution.

Dey will automatically be nominated for the Academic All-America ballot as a member of the Academic All-District team.  The Academic All-America team is scheduled to be announced on Friday, June 3.