Two Gamecocks Named to the CSC Academic All-District Team

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two student-athletes from the South Carolina men’s tennis team, Connor Thomson and Jelani Sarr, were named to the CSC Academic All-District Team on Tuesday.

The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s Tennis Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Thomson, a graduate student who earned his masters of sport & entertainment management, is one of the most decorated athletes in South Carolina men’s tennis program history. He earned an undergraduate GPA of 3.726 and graduate GPA of 3.833. This award marks his second CSC Academic All-District honor, first earned in 2023. Thomson has accumulated a plethora of athletic and academic accolades throughout his time with the Gamecocks such as 5x SEC Academic Honor Roll, 4x ITA Scholar Athlete, SEC All-Newcomer Team, 2x SEC Player of the Week, 3x All-SEC First Team, 1x All-SEC Second Team, 5x Individual NCAA Qualifier, 2x ITA Doubles and 1x ITA Singles All-American.

This season, Thomson became the winningest Gamecock in men’s tennis program history after surpassing 200 combined wins in singles and doubles. The Scotland native earned a 14-4 record in singles for dual matches from the top two positions in the lineup. He recorded seven nationally ranked wins, earning his highest ranked win over No. 14. In the ITA rankings he reached as high as No. 3 in doubles alongside Lucas da Silva. The two held an 11-7 record from the No. 1 position, and went on an eight-match win streak at the beginning of conference play. In singles, he ranked as high as No. 18. 

Sarr is a retailing major who maintained a GPA of 3.550. His all-time accolades include 2x ITA Scholar Athletes, 1x SEC Academic Honor Roll, SEC Community Service team and 2x SEC Freshman of the Week.

The sophomore played a strong role in the singles and doubles lineups this season. He earned a 16-8 overall singles record this season from the No. 3, 5 and 6 positions, tallying two ranked wins. Sarr held a 14-9 record in doubles alongside Atakan Karahan, going 10-8 in dual matches from the No. 2 position. The two were ranked as high as No. 39 and picked up two nationally ranked wins. The Maryland native played a pivotal role in sending the Gamecocks to their second consecutive SEC Championship match, defeating No. 117 Martinez Serrano of #2 seed Mississippi State in a lengthy three set comeback 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3), fighting through long rallies to get the Gamecocks one away from clinching the match. The point was crucial as if he would’ve lost, the Bulldogs would have clinched the match.

For the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).