Virginia senior forward/center Jerome Meyinsse has been named the recipient of the 2010 "Skip" Prosser Award, emblematic of the top scholar-athlete in men's basketball, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced today.
Wake Forest head basketball coach George Edward "Skip" Prosser passed away on July 26, 2007. Prosser compiled a 291-146 career record in 14 seasons as a head coach, including a 126-68 mark in his six years with the Demon Deacons. The 2003 ACC Coach of the Year, Prosser won 20 plus games and led Wake Forest to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first four seasons in Winston-Salem and brought the school its first outright ACC regular season title in 2003. Every Wake Forest senior he coached graduated and the Deacons placed nine players on the annual All-ACC Academic Basketball Team during his tenure.
In order to be nominated for the award, a student-athlete must be an upperclassman with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better – both in his career and in the previous two semesters. Sixty percent of the award is based on academic achievement and 40 percent on athletic accomplishments.
In addition to being a three-time honoree to the All-ACC Academic Basketball team and ACC Academic Honor Roll, Meyinsse is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. The President of Virginia's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2009-10, Meyinsse was named as one of the team's tri-captains for the 2009-10 season. A Student-Athlete Mentor at Virginia the past four years and an economics major, Meyinsse is also one of 36 ACC Student-Athletes to earn the league's prestigious Weaver-James-Corrigan Scholarship.
One of the most improved players in the ACC this season, Meyinsse is currently averaging a career-high 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. The Baton Rouge, La., native has started 21 of the Cavaliers' 29 games this season and leads the team in field goal percentage (.602) and blocked shots (20).
Meyinsse scored a career-high 21 points and pulled down seven rebounds in a February 28 loss to fifth-ranked Duke and over his last four games is averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and has made 22-of-30 (.733) shots from the floor.
"This is a wonderful honor for Jerome to receive. I know Jerome and his family will be very proud of this recognition and we're very proud of him," said Virginia Head Coach Tony Bennett. "He represents everything that's right about a student-athlete. What makes it extra special for Jerome is that he's waited his turn. He didn't have a lot of playing time his first three years, but kept working hard and kept a great attitude. He's done very well in the classroom and been a leader of student organizations.
"When a lot of people would probably have gotten discouraged, Jerome waited and then made the most of his opportunities. He has played well and been an effective player this season. Jerome is an outstanding individual who embodies what you want in a student-athlete."