Jimmy Baron

Classroom

Jimmy was named to the 2008-09 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America team and was honored at halftime of Rhode Island’s Feb. 11 game vs. St. Bonaventure for earning a spot on the Dean’s List for the fifth time.  He has compiled a 3.42 grade-point average over his first seven semesters and achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA during the Spring 2008 semester.  Baron has also been named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in each of his first three years and is a four-time URI Dean’s List member.  He also received ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Third Team honors for the 2008-09 season.

Character

For the past two years, Jimmy Baron has been a member of URI’s peer advocacy program - a team of specially trained students who create and perform interactive workshops and programs to educate and increase awareness regarding: partner violence; stalking; alcohol; sexual abuse; sexual harassment; and drugs and related issues, as well as to provide advocacy services to victims of these crimes on campus.  Additionally, over the last two years, he has joined Rhode Island state Attorney General Patrick Lynch to speak to South Kingstown H.S. regarding the state’s “silent witness program.”  Baron as also served as a team leader with Rhody’s Life Skills program for incoming newcomer student-athletes.

Community

For the past eight years, Jimmy and his father - URI head coach Jim Baron - have run a clinic for Special Olympics at each NCAA Final Four.  Jimmy is also a regular speaker at local elementary and middle schools, on topics ranging from academics, athletics, and saying no to drugs.  During the 2007-08 academic year, Jimmy served as secretary of URI’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), which co-sponsored the first-ever breast cancer awareness event - the “Pink Out” - in conjunction with a men’s basketball game.  Baron has also participated in “Rhody Reading Week,” a program in which URI student-athletes travel to local elementary schools to read to students.  In addition, he volunteered at the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation road race, which benefits a local charitable foundation aimed at preventing drinking and driving.  On Jan. 8, Jimmy visited Monsignor Clarke Elementary School in Wakefield, R.I. for the second time in as many years.  Baron spoke to the student body – ranging from 1st-8th grade - about the importance of listening to parents, teachers, and coaches.  The senior guard also held a 20 minute Q&A session with the students before putting on a shooting clinic.

Competition

Jimmy entered the 2008-09 season ranked fourth among all active players with 243 3-point field goals.  He has compiled 1,173 points through his first three seasons of play at Rhode Island and was named to the 2007-08 NABC All-District 1 team.  Baron was also a 2006-07 All-Atlantic 10 honorable mention selection.