GREENVILLE, S.C. – The NCCAA is honored to recognize Jalen Brinson of Columbia International University (CIU) as the 2024 Pete Maravich Award recipient for Division I Men’s Basketball.
 
A grad student from Orlando, Florida, Brinson has blossomed into a top-tier player for CIU during his time with the Rams. Joining the program as a junior varsity player, Brinson’s work ethic earned him a spot on the varsity squad, where he has become a three-time All-Appalachian Athletic Conference Defensive Team selection. This season, Brinson is averaging 11.2 points per game and 4.2 assists per game. His 528 career assists are the most in school history, as Brinson is the only player in the history of the CIU men’s basketball program to score 1,000 points and dish out 500 assists. 
 
Off the court, Brinson came to know Christ during his first year at CIU and has used several opportunities to share his faith through organizations such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), as a camp counselor for Hoop for Hope, and as a community outreach leader with local elementary schools in Columbia, South Carolina. Brinson also helps transport teammates to church and FCA meetings. In the classroom, Brinson holds a 3.25 GPA while majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Biblical Studies. Brinson has been a four-time honor roll selection and is a two-time Dean’s List selection at CIU.
 
“Jalen came into our program as an underrecruited JV player and quickly changed his JV status because of his work ethic,” says Head Coach Tony Stockman. “Jalen has run numerous basketball gatherings by himself, from team meetings to overseeing timeouts. He also helps carry equipment to the bus, prays for his teammates, and takes them out to eat just to check on them personally. He has also single-handedly revitalized our program’s relationship with the academic and non-athlete community on our campus. He goes out of his way to make people feel heard and has done amazing work in breaking down the basketball student-athlete to traditional student barrier by valuing everybody he encounters every day.”  
 
Other Nominees 
Caleb Hoilien, University of Northwestern
Chris Rogers, Cedarville University
Clayton Winter, Asbury University
 
Award Description 
“Pistol Pete” Maravich was known for his ball handling, shooting abilities, and creative passing.  Maravich set several collegiate records and was the 1970 Player of the Year.  He was an NBA All-Star, named one of NBA’s 50 greatest players, and inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.  He came to know Christ later in his life and spent the last years of his life pointing people to Christ.   He wanted to be remembered for serving Jesus to the utmost, rather than his basketball legacy.
 

---

Previous Winners