LEXINGTON, Ky. — Five University of Kentucky baseball players have been named to the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District team, the organization announced on June 4. Ben Cleaver, Leighton Harris, Nate Harris, Luke Lawrence and Jayce Tharnish earned the honor for combining athletic excellence on the field with academic achievement in the classroom.

Lawrence and Tharnish advanced to the Academic All-America voting round, where they will compete for national recognition.

To qualify for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average and meet participation or performance benchmarks during the 2025-26 season.

Cleaver, a Business Administration-Management student from Thompsons Station, Tennessee, posted a 3.582 GPA. He was also inducted into the Frank G. Ham Society of Character earlier this year.

Leighton Harris, a Lexington native majoring in Business Administration-Management, maintained a 3.908 GPA while serving on the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team. Nate Harris, from Yorkville, Illinois, earned his honor with a 3.868 GPA in Business Administration-Finance.

Lawrence, a senior from Evergreen Park, Illinois, excelled both athletically and academically with a 3.519 GPA in Communication. The second baseman finished his career with 261 hits at the Division I level, including 135 at Kentucky. Lawrence played a crucial role in the Wildcats' 2026 NCAA Regional run, recording key hits when the team needed them most.

Jayce Tharnish, a Finance major from Devon, Pennsylvania, led the Wildcats in numerous on-field statistical categories this season while maintaining a 3.675 GPA. The honor marks his second consecutive year earning Academic All-District recognition, a testament to his sustained excellence both on the diamond and in the classroom.