The capstone for Jordan Korinek’s basketball career came Monday.
She was named a first-team Academic All-American, the third in Kent State history.
The award wonderfully illustrates the contribution the senior from Cuyahoga Falls made to Kent State University.
- She was a great athlete — fifth-leading scorer in KSU history (and a lot more we’ll talk about later).
- She is a great student — a perfect 4.0 average in special education.
- She is a great person, from everything I’ve heard about her and from my interaction with her in writing this blog for four years.
All the details are below, but first, let’s look as this Twitter thread from last week’s MAC Tournament
#KentState head coach Todd Starkey hugs Jordan Korinek as she fights back tears after being removed from the game in the final moments of the 4th quarter of Wednesday nights game. (shot for @KentStateWbb) pic.twitter.com/iIbqcJa3yg
— DavidDermerPix (@DavidDermerPix) March 8, 2018
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Thank you Coach! So thankful to have you the last two years!
— Jordan korinek (@JKorinek_23) March 8, 2018
Korinek joins Kate Miller, a 2002 graduate, and Lindsay Shearer, a 2006 grad, as the only Flashes to receive academic first-team honors. Shearer is 13 points ahead of Korinek in all-time scoring at 1,799. Miller played just her senior season for the Flashes after transferring from American University.
Korinek was a second-team academic all-American last season, along with teammate Larissa Lurken, who graduated in May. Kent State was the only school last year to have two academic all-Americans.
Some highlights of Korinek’s time at Kent State:
CAREER RANKS
- Fifth in points with 1,786 points.
- Sixth in scoring average at 14.6.
- Fifth in field goals with 662.
- Fourth in field goal percentage at 50.4.
- Fifth in free-throw percentage at 81.1.
- Sixth in free-throws made with 445.
- Sixth in free throws attempted at 549.
- Sixth in rebounds at 751.
SEASON RANKS
All for this season except as noted.
- Third in total points at 634.
- Seventh in scoring average at 19.8.
- Second in free throws made at 197, which was fifth in Division I this season.
- Fourth in free throws attempted at 234. 10th in Division I.
- Sixth in field goals at 208.
- Sixth in field goal percentage at 54.3 (in 2107-17).
HONORS
- Second leading scorer, MAC East championship team, 2016-17.
- All-MAC first team 2018, second team 2017, honorable mention 2016. (Preseason all-MAC East 2016-17 and 2017-18)
- First-team Academic All-American 2018, second team 2017. Academic all-district 2016, 2017, 2018.
She started 113 of her 122 games at Kent State.
Korinek was a first-team all-state player at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron. Her parents, Stanton and Erin, rarely missed a game. Her older sister, Morgan, played basketball at Kenyon College and is an assistant coach there. Her younger sister, Sydney, is a junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary, where she is a key reserve on the basketball team. Korinek’s older brother, Kori, was a baseball player at Buffalo.
Two other MAC players made the first academic all-American team: guard Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriot of Toledo and guard Carmen Grande of Ball State.
The all-academic teams is chosen by college sports information directors. To be eligible, players need a 3.3 GPA and be starters or key reserves.
Biography information at KSU women’s basketball website.