WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Palm Beach Atlantic University men's basketball student-athlete JJ Hayes has been named to the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and will serve on the committee until January of 2026.

A Hilton Head, South Carolina native, Hayes just completed his freshman season and will be the lone men's basketball committee member and the second from the Sunshine State Conference joining former Sailfish women's soccer player Michaela Boyd. PBA will continue to have a voice in the 26-member group that represents the athletes as Hayes becomes the third Sailfish athlete to be named to the committee in eight years.

"I am incredibly thankful and excited for the opportunity to represent Palm Beach Atlantic University and the other athletes of the Sunshine State Conference on a national scale," said Hayes. "I look forward to collaborating with SAAC representatives from other conferences to create an uplifting atmosphere for all Division II student-athletes. I am energized to share my passion for student-athlete mental health and nutrition with others. None of this would have been possible without the support and guidance of coach Cole Rose, athletic director Courtney Lovely Evans, and the entire athletic department."

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) serves as the primary governance arm representing student-athlete interests in Division II affairs. SAAC members serve as student-athlete liaisons that monitor and discuss happenings on campuses, within conferences, and at the national level.

Representatives are responsible for gathering feedback and reporting on behalf of their conference, as well as relaying important events, hot topics, and educational information to both the campus and conference levels. In addition to relaying information across campuses and conferences, the committee speaks on behalf of the entire Division II student-athlete body throughout the NCAA governance structure.

Division II SAAC members serve as voting members on a number of Division II committees, including the Management Council. The SAAC also has voting authority during the Division II Business Session at the annual NCAA Convention.