Five Wildcats Named Academic All-District

Five Kentucky student-athletes have been named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators – Ben Cleaver, Leighton Harris, Nate Harris, Luke Lawrence and Jayce Tharnish.

Lawrence and Tharnish advance to the Academic All-America portion of the vote.

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Baseball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. They must have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.

Cleaver, from Thompsons Station, Tennessee, posted a 3.582 GPA in Business Administration – Management. Earlier this year he was inducted into the prestigious Frank G. Ham Society of Character.

Leighton Harris, from Lexington, maintained a 3.908 in Business Administration – Management. He also was a member of the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team.

Nate Harris, from Yorkville, Illinois, had a 3.868 in Business Administration – Finance.

Luke Lawrence starred on the field and off, posting a 3.519 GPA across three schools in Communication. He is from Evergreen Park, Illinois and finished his career with 261 hits at the Division I level.

Jayce Tharnish, from Devon, Pennsylvania, led the Wildcats in a host of on-field statistical categories this season and logged a 3.675 in Finance. This is the second year in a row he’s made Academic All-District.