A.J. Jacobson

Classroom

A.J. Jacobson is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, earning first-team honors as a junior (2017) and third-team honors as a sophomore (2016). He was voted to the Summit League Academic All-League team following each of the past three seasons and is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and three-time NABC Honors Court honoree. Jacobson graduated with his bachelor’s degree in zoology following his junior season (May 2017) with a 3.992 cumulative GPA and has now begun an MBA program. Following his collegiate career, he will enter dental school.

Character

Jacobson is a high-character senior leader for the NDSU men’s basketball team. He has had surgery to repair injuries to his shoulder, thumb and foot over the past three years and has battled through those nagging injuries to play an average of 30 games per season. While missing practices this fall with injuries, he has taken on a player-coach role to mentor his younger teammates.

Community

Jacobson has volunteered at numerous community events, including school visits, hospital visits and youth events and has been involved in North Dakota Special Olympics. Along with his teammates, he has participated in several community service events each year, including volunteering at a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving, serving food at a charity event, and teaching special-needs children to ride bikes.

Competition

Jacobson has started all 90 games he has played entering his senior season, averaging 33 minutes per game for his career. As of nomination time, he is averaging 11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for his career, making 50+ three-pointers in each of his three seasons. As a freshman and sophomore, he earned honorable mention All-Summit League honors. He has 56 career games with double-digit scoring with single-game highs of 26 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks. After three seasons, he had amassed 1,052 career points.