Hofstra's Green (DI) honored; Baruch's Ekekeugbor and STAC's Watler Share DII-III
MBWA Players of the Week (1-18 to 1-24) 2015-16 / Week 6
FFI: Chuck Stogel, MBWA - 914-428-6111, chstogel@aol.com
Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Green, Ekekeugbor, Watler Named Men's Players of the Week
NEW YORK (Jan. 26, 2016) ---
Juan’ya Green of Hofstra, and
Chima Ekekeugbor of Baruch and
Chaz Watler of St. Thomas Aquinas, as co-winners, 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. 18-24, are unique in that they encompass players from 74 Met area schools across Divisions I, II and III.
A 6-3 senior guard from Philadelphia, PA, Green --- who also was named Colonial Athletic Association player of the week --- averaged 26.5 points, 10.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds in leading the Pride (14-6) to a pair of conference victories last week that helped Hofstra maintain a tie for first place in the CAA.
Green started his week with a 23-point, career-high 14-assist output in a 96-92 triple-overtime triumph at Northeastern, while setting a new school record with 55 minutes played. Next, he poured in a season-high 30 points while adding eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals in a 91-63 homecourt win over William & Mary. He also committed zero turnovers in Hofstra’s fourth victory in its past five games.
A 6-2 junior guard from Brooklyn, NY, Watler averaged 20.0 points on 13-of-20 (65%) shooting from the field and 13-of-16 (81.2%) accuracy at the free throw line as the East Coast Conference co-leading Spartans (14-4) won a pair of ECC games. He also had nine rebounds and nine assists.
Watler scored 23 points as STAC defeated visiting Bridgeport 93-85, hitting on 7-of-10 shots from the field and 8-of-11 at the foul line in 35 minutes of action. Two days later he registered 17 points with six rebounds and six assists in a 96-80 victory at Dowling.
A 6-5 sophomore forward from Matawan, NJ, Ekekeugbor averaged 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds as the Bearcats (10-8) split a pair of contests, losing 85-62 at The College of New Jersey and defeating visiting Hunter 86-72.
Ekekeugbor canned 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the non-league game at TCNJ, then led all players with a double-double of 27 points and 15 rebounds in the CUNYAC win over Hunter.
Players receiving MBWA Men’s Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Calvin Crawford, Manhattan; Brian Parker, Marist; Justin Robinson, Monmouth; Jameel Warney, Stony Brook.
Players receiving MBWA Men’s Divisions II-III Honorable Mention for the week: Will Fonseca, Staten Island; Jalen Harris, NJCU; Evan Kupferberg, NYU; Tyseem Lyles, Mercy; Bright Mensah, Wm. Paterson; Shelton Mickell, Pace; Matt Miller, USMMA; Jamal Reid, Felician; Jamail Stanley, SUNY Old Westbury.
Previous MBWA 2015-16 Men's Players of the Week: Dec. 8, A.J. English, Iona, Div. I; Egzon Gjonbalaj, Brooklyn, Divs. II-III . . . Dec. 15, Luke Petrasek, Columbia. Divs. II-III; Chinwe Wosu, New Jersey City University, Div. I . . . .Dec. 22, Jameel Warney, Stony Brook and Damon Lynn, NJIT, Div. I; Anthony Maestre, Manhattanville, Divs. II-III... Jan. 12, A.J. English, Iona, Div. I; Evan Kupferberg, NYU, and Justin Reyes, St. Thomas Aquinas, Divs. II-III... Jan. 19, Teddy Okereafor, Rider, Div. I; Mike Klinger, Drew and John Snow, Rutgers-Newark, Divs. II-III.