DURHAM, N.C. – The National Alliance of African American Athletes announced Michael Reese as one of its finalists for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award.
 
The Nashville, Tenn., native is one of six players nationwide to be selected a contender for this year's honor. He will join the five other finalists at the Watkins Award Gala on Saturday in Arlington, Va., where one student-athlete will be chosen as the nation's top African American male high school scholar-athlete.
 
Reese, defensive lineman who graduated from Cane Ridge High School in December of 2019 and enrolled at Duke in January, was the recipient of the Nashville All-Region Academic Award and the Hume Academic Award. He volunteers with Best Buddies, Read Across America and Nashville Area Youth Football. On the field, he compiled 85 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 11 sacks over his last two seasons. He was a three-time all-region honoree, two-time all-city selection and two-time region defensive player of the year. He also graduated with a 3.8 grade point average.
 
Reese becomes Duke's ninth student-athlete named as a finalist for this award, joining Vince Oghobaase (2005), Matt Daniels (2008)*, Deion Williams (2012), Zavier Carmichael (2014), Brandon Hill (2016), Rakavius Chambers (2017)*, Mataeo Durant (2018), and Jaylen Coleman (2019).
*Recipient of the award
 
"The Watkins Award Class of 2020 features an incredible collection of student-athletes who have already made an impact on their school and in the community," J. Everette Pearsall, Executive Director of The Alliance, said. "These young men are ready for the future and prepared to succeed, on and off the football field. We look forward to recognizing these talented young men as the premier African American Scholar-Athletes in the United States."
 
Selected for this award is based on unweighted grade-point average, personal statements, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation.
 
The six Class of 2020 finalists are:

• Vernon Broughton, Houston, Texas, 4.1 GPA
• Terrell "Tonka" Hemingway, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 4.4 GPA
• Michael Reese, Nashville, Tenn., 3.8 GPA
• Cody Simon, Jersey City, N.J., 3.9 GPA
• Christopher Thompson, Jr. Dallas, Texas, 3.9 GPA
• Kourt Williams II, Harbor City, Calif., 3.8 GPA

 
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE AND THE FRANKLIN D WATKINS MEMORIAL AWARD
The National Alliance of African American Athletes was founded in 1989 and its mission is to empower African American males through athletics, education and public programs. Since 1992, The Alliance has annually presented the Watkins Award to the nation's elite high school student-athletes. The award is named for the late Franklin D. Watkins, who coached championship football and basketball teams in Harrisburg, Pa. Past winners include Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, as well as several others who went on to play in the NFL.