The Union County area has three “Jacks” of diamonds among basketball players who have earned All-Ohio honors for the 2019-2020 season.
Jonathan Alder’s Jackie Santa-Emma and Jackson Izzard and Marysville’s Jack Christian have been honored on teams announced by the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association.
Santa-Emma was named to the third team and Izzard earned honorable mention status in Division II.
Christian was named honorable mention in Division I.
Santa-Emma and Izzard helped lead the Pioneers to a Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division championship. JA claimed the crown with a 9-1 record.
Jonathan Alder posted an overall record of 20-5 and finished as district runner-up to Columbus St. Francis DeSales.
Santa-Emma, a 5-11 senior guard, averaged 14.5 points per game while hitting 40% of his three-point shot attempts.
He also distributed the ball well as he dished for 5.4 assists per outing.
Santa-Emma connected on nearly 52% of all his field goal offerings during the season.
Izzard, a 6-3 junior wing, scored at a per-game clip of 14.7.
He averaged 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest and sank nearly 35% from beyond the three-point arc.
Christian, a 5-10 junior guard, has been a key member of the Monarch varsity squad for the past three seasons.
He was the team’s leading scorer at 18.2 points per game as Marysville finished the 2019-20 season with a 15-9 record. He also averaged nearly five rebounds per contest.
Christian helped lead the Monarchs to a three-way share of the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division championship.
Marysville tied with Dublin Coffman and Upper Arlington for the divisional crown.
Monarch sharpshooter Jack Christian buries a three-pointer during a game from the 2019-20 campaign. Christian has been named to the Division I All-Ohio honorable mention list. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Jonathan Alder’s Jackie Santa-Emma hits a jumper during a game from the 2019-20 season. Santa-Emma has been named to the Division II All-Ohio third team. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Jackson Izzard of JA eyes the basket despite defensive pressure. Izzard has been named to the Division II All-Ohio honorable mention list. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)