Decorated standout Jaymee Acton enters her eighth season on Buffie Burson's staff and her fifth as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of North Georgia women’s basketball program. She will assist head coach Buffie Burson with all aspects of the program.
Acton was named a WBCA Thirty Under 30 honoree after the 2020-21 season came to a close, an award that was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.
In her four years on the bench as assistant coach, the Nighthawks are 105-24. In the 2019-20 season, the Nighthawks made it to a third straight Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship game and a third straight NCAA regional bid. The 2018-19 year was a banner one for the program as the Nighthawks won the Peach Belt Regular Season Championship, the PBC Tournament Championship, the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship and the first NCAA Elite Eight appearance in program history. In the 2017-18 season, the Nighthawks claimed the Regular Season Championship, Peach Belt Tournament Championship and made a Sweet Sixteen Appearance.
Before being named assistant coach in the summer of 2016, Acton served as a graduate assistant for two years.
In the Gainesville native’s sophomore season, Acton had one of the most prolific seasons in not just North Georgia history, but also in the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA Division II. She was named the Daktronics NCAA Division II National Player of the Year, as well as the Peach Belt Conference and Southeast Region Player of the Year after leading the nation in scoring averaging 25.0 points per game.
She set multiple league and school records in total points in a season (624), scoring average in a season (25.0), and free throws made (180). Acton would be selected to the PBC All-Conference and Southeast All-Region teams again in her junior season. She also set the NCAA Division II records for points in a game (40), blocks in a game (nine) and field goals made in a game (16) in the span of just 35 days.
Prior to transferring to UNG, Acton played one season at NCAA Division I Wake Forest where she played in 28 contests as a freshman.
At nearby Gainesville High School, Carnes was a four time All-Area and All-State selection along with being named the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) AAA Player of the Year as a senior as she finished her prep career with 1,850 points and 1,000 rebounds.
