ATLANTA, Ga. - Belhaven Men's Basketball and Track and Field standout Neal Terry has been named Belhaven's nominee for the 2025-26 Collegiate Conference of the South Man of the Year award.

The award, now in its fourth year, recognizes the top male student-athlete in the conference for his work in athletics, academics, service and leadership throughout the academic year.

Terry made his mark in two sports during his final year with the Blazers.

On the basketball court, Terry earned All-CCS Second Team honors and landed on the CCS Tournament All-Tournament Team after helping Belhaven win its first conference tournament championship and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

He finished his career as Belhaven's all-time leader in blocked shots with 220. Terry also set the program's single-game record with six blocks against Huntingdon on Feb. 27.

His success carried into track and field season. Terry was named the 2026 CCS Championships Field Athlete of the Meet after winning both the triple jump and long jump at the conference meet.

Terry set the CCS record in the triple jump with a mark of 15.11 meters, while also winning the long jump with a leap of 7.19 meters. He was also part of Belhaven's third-place 4x400 relay team, which finished in 3:28.55.

Earlier in the spring, Terry posted a personal-best mark of 7.31 meters in the long jump at the Rhodes 7-Way Meet.

For Terry, the story of his time at Belhaven goes well beyond the awards, records and championships. It is about finding a place where he felt seen, supported and pushed to become the kind of person who could do the same for others.

"Being a student athlete for Belhaven has changed my life," Terry said. "Before Belhaven, I felt like I wasn't seen when I was playing my sports, and it felt like I had no support from my peers."

Terry said that changed when he arrived at Belhaven.

"At Belhaven, I had a community," Terry said. "I knew when I stepped out there on our home court, I had an army on the court with me and an army in the stands. Win, lose, or draw, I had people who were behind me. That was completely foreign to me because it was something I didn't have in high school, but Belhaven showed me what it was meant to be a community."

That support helped Terry become more involved across campus. He worked to get students to other athletic events, helped bring students into campus recreation activities, invited others to FCA and served his teammates through SAAC.

"There were so many people that changed my life at Belhaven, and all I wanted to do was have the same impact that they had on me," Terry said. "I wanted others to know that they mattered, that they were supported and seen, and that they had a community who backed them and rooted for them wholeheartedly."

Terry said Belhaven also played a major role in his faith journey.

"Not only did it give me a chance to help strengthen our community in return, but it also helped me find Christ with just one invite to FCA," Terry said. "Within my community at Belhaven, my light was seen, and they taught me to see the light that everyone else has. It taught me to support others and give them a chance to shine their light."

Terry leaves Belhaven as a conference champion, school record holder and one of the most accomplished two-sport student-athletes in recent school history. More importantly, he leaves with a clear understanding of the impact a community can have.

"Belhaven has given me a chance to shine my light for others to see so that I may be able to bring glory to God, and so that they too may be able to use their gifts and abilities to shine in their own ways," Terry said. "And I will forever be grateful for the opportunities Belhaven has given me as well as the impact this community has had on my life."

To view the full release from the CCS click here. 

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