University of North Carolina Athletics
Joel James Named To NCAA Student Advisory Committee
June 9, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Student-Athlete Development
CHAPEL HILL – Joel James, a rising senior on the University of North Carolina men's basketball team, has been selected to represent the Atlantic Coast Conference on the NCAA's National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Each of the 31 Division I conferences selects one student-athlete to represent it on the committee. The members of the advisory committee respond to proposed NCAA legislation, review and comment on governance matters and other subjects of interest and participate in administering athletic programs and the NCAA.
James is a member of the advisory committees for UNC's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and the ACC's Student-Athlete Advisory Council. He attended the NCAA Leadership Forum in Florida in April.
“I was a little shocked but also quite proud to hear that I was selected to represent not just UNC, but the entire Atlantic Coast Conference,” says James. “I was fortunate to meet some interesting and respected people who work in the NCAA at the leadership council meeting. They are dedicated people who are fully committed to helping student-athletes at all levels get the most out of their opportunities at their respective universities.”
James' term on the committee begins July 1, 2015. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native is one of two men's basketball players from across the country chosen to serve on the committee.
“We are so excited about Joel's participation on National SAAC,” says Cricket Lane, Carolina's assistant director of athletics for student-athlete development. “If you have spent any time with Joel you realize how engaging and thoughtful he is about so many issues. He also has an awesome sense of humor that will make the meetings enjoyable.”
SAAC provides student-athletes from each team the opportunity to offer input regarding Life Skills programs, athletic department policies, and conference and NCAA legislation.
“I am very pleased for Joel and the ACC,” says UNC men's basketball coach Roy Williams. “He is a wonderful young man. He has grown as a person each and every day since he came to Carolina. I know he will take his position very seriously and will help student-athletes across the ACC have a voice in the future of college athletics.”
"This year marks a pivotal point in college athletics and especially the voice of student-athletes as our engagement in the collegiate enterprise continues to grow,” says Kendall Spencer, chair of the Division I SAAC and member of the Division I board of directors. “We look forward to the new year and could not be more excited to have new members join our national student-athlete advisory committee to further illustrate diversity in sport and dedication to the welfare of student-athletes."
