Born and raised in Hickory, North Carolina, where he grew up playing at Lake Hickory Country Club and prepped at Hickory High School.

Huge fan of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, especially their men's basketball program. Also supports the Carolina Panthers (NFL football) and Atlanta Braves (MLB baseball).

Alma mater, Western Carolina University, hosts the J.T. Poston Invitational each fall. Western Carolina has hosted the tournament for several years, but it was renamed in honor of J.T. in 2019. The trophy is a purple mailbox, a nod to J.T.'s nickname, the Postman.

Serves on the Board of Advisors for the Luke Garrison Foundation as he tries to "Live Like Luke." Luke was a close friend of his from Hickory who passed away suddenly on November 14, 2015 at the age of 24.

Played four seasons at Western Carolina University (2011-15) in Cullowhee, North Carolina, where he earned six individual victories -- including back-to-back Southern Conference Championships in 2014 and 2015 -- and broke school records for career scoring average (71.73) and single-season scoring average (70.27 for the 2013-14 season).

Earned All-America Third Team honors in 2014 and 2015 and, as a senior, qualified for the 2015 NCAA Championship as an individual, becoming the first Western Carolina player to compete at the NCAA Championship.

Won the 2013 Southwestern Amateur Championship at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Past champions of the event include Craig Stadler (1975), Jay Haas (1976), Mark O'Meara (1980), Corey Pavin (1981), Ryan Palmer (1999), and Nick Watney (2002).

Won the prestigious Big "I" National Championship in 2011. Past winners of the event include Billy Andrade (1980, 1981), Justin Leonard (1989), and Tiger Woods (1990, 1992).

Led Hickory (North Carolina) High School to a team state title at the 2009 NCHSAA 3A State Championship, contested at Keith Hills Golf Club, and won back-to-back individual state titles in 2010 and 2011 at Foxfire Golf Club.

Featured in a May 2011 edition of Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" after he successfully defended his individual state title and broke state championship records for lowest 18-hole score (63) and lowest 36-hole score (131).