Isaiah (Iona) & Lorenzo (Brooklyn) Williams Each Win Players of the Week
Iona's Williams gets D-I nod; Brooklyn's Williams takes D-II/III honor
FFI: Chuck Stogel, 914-428-6111, chstogel@aol.com
NEW YORK (Jan. 13, 2015) --- Isaiah Williams of Iona and Lorenzo Williams of Brooklyn have been named Men’s Division I and Divisions II-III Players of the Week, respectively, by the Met Basketball Writers Assn. The designations, for games played Jan. 5-11, are unique in that they encompass players from 73 Met area schools across Divisions I, II and III.
A 6-7 junior guard from Newark, NJ, Williams --- who also was named MAAC player of the week --- led Iona (11-5) to a pair of victories, averaging 24.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals and a 7:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He shot 75.0%, including 62.5% from beyond the arc with a total of 10 3-point goals.
Williams first posted his second double-double of the season in an 81-73 win over Quinnipiac with 22 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 9-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from deep. The 10 rebounds matched his career-high for the third time this season.
Then, in a 79-76 win over Canisius, Williams led the Gaels in scoring for the first time in his career with 26 points. He hit six 3-pointers (one shy of his career best effort) with his biggest shot coming with 82 seconds remaining as he drained a trifecta from the corner with the shot clock expiring to break the game’s final tie. Williams added six rebounds, three blocks and three steals, and had five assists and no turnovers versus the Golden Griffins.
A 6-4 junior forward from Brooklyn, NY, Lorenzo Williams --- who also was named CUNYAC player of the week --- led the Bulldogs (12-3) to a 2-1 stretch, averaging 21.0 points on 49% (24-of-49) shooting from the field and 78.9% (15-of-19) accuracy at the free throw line to go with 12.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
In a 75-63 win over reigning CUNYAC champion York to start his week, Williams posted 27 points and 13 rebounds, both game-highs. He scored 12 points in the second half to help the Bulldogs erase a seven-point halftime deficit.
Then, in an 85-79 victory over borough rival St. Joseph's, Williams had 17 points and 11 rebounds. He concluded his week by registering a near triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in an 85-74 loss to Baruch.
Williams has now recorded a double-double in four straight games and has five double-doubles on the season.
Players receiving MBWA Men’s Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Marcus Burton, Wagner; Sterling Gibbs, Seton Hall; Ashton Pankey, Manhattan; Ameen Tanksley, Hofstra; Jameel Warney, Stony Brook.
Players receiving MBWA Men’s Divisions II-III Honorable Mention for the week: Juan Camacho, Manhattanville; Mark Gjonlekaj, Old Westbury; Shelton Mickell, Pace; Tommy Soulias, Kean; James Zuccaro, Mount St. Vincent.
Previous MBWA 2014-15 Men’s Players of the Week: Dec. 9, D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s; Dec. 16, Granville Gittens, Baruch, D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s (co-winners); Dec. 23, Darien Davis, Dowling.
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