Division I-Leading Four Wildcats Named to CoSida Academic All-District Team
Four Kentucky baseball student-athletes have been named to the 2021 Academic All-District Team, it was announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Seniors T.J. Collett, Daniel Harper and Coltyn Kessler and sophomore John Rhodes all now will be eligible to make the Academic All-America teams that are announced later this month.
Kentucky joined California, Berkeley and Stanford as the only Division I schools to have four players honored.
The honor recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSida Academic All-America® program separately recognizes baseball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Kentucky’s district includes schools from Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Rhodes, a sophomore outfielder from Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, has earned a perfect 4.0 during his collegiate career, making him one of just five Division I outfielders honored to achieve at that level. The Business Management major also is a standout on the field, having been named National Freshman of the Year in 2020 and leading the Wildcats in runs, doubles, walks and hit by pitch this season.
Collett, a graduate senior first baseman from Terre Haute, Indiana, completed his graduate certificate in Communication this spring and recently was named the 2021 winner of the Senior CLASS Award that recognizes excellence on and off the field. Collett concluded his UK career second on the school’s all-time home run list and in the top 10 in RBI.
Harper, a senior pitcher from Fairway, Kansas, graduated with a degree in Business Administration in Management with a 3.73 grade point average. He has been one of the team’s most trusted relievers the past several years and maintains one year of remaining eligibility due to the Covid-19 pandemic relief.
Kessler, a senior catcher from High Ridge, Missouri, also graduated this spring, earning a degree in Communication. He was one of the Southeastern Conference’s top hitters, batting a team-best .349 with 18 extra-base hits and 25 RBI in 46 games.
