Belmont Basketball senior Justin Hare has been named Honorable Mention Mid-Major All-American by CollegeHoops.net, the site released Thursday.
The Cleveland, Tenn. native led the Bruins to a third consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. On schedule to graduate in May with honors before pursuing medical school, Hare will depart as the most decorated student-athlete in Belmont history. This latest national honor further validates his already impressive collegiate career.
Among his numerous accolades, the 6-2 guard is a two-time First Team All-Atlantic Sun honoree and a two-time Atlantic Sun Tournament MVP. All told, Hare ranks second in the Bruins’ NCAA era and eighth in Atlantic Sun Conference history in career points with 1,761 points. Moreover, Hare earned a reputation for delivering in high-pressure, late-game situations; hitting the game-winning or game-tying shot in the final seconds a remarkable 14 times. This includes his memorable game-winning jumpshot to carry Belmont past Alabama, 85-83, Nov. 19.
But beyond the hardwood, Hare personified the academic success of the Bruin program. Twice Academic All-American and three-times Academic All-District, Hare also received the signature award of his league being named the 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Male-Student Athlete of the Year.
Hare becomes the first Belmont player ever to receive this national distinction.
