Ponds (SJU/DI), Francis (MSMC/DII-III), Jenkins (Molloy/DII-III) Bank Accolades
MBWA Players of the Week (12-10 to 12-16) 2018-19 / Week 3
FFI: Chuck Stogel, MBWA - 914-428-6111, chstogel@aol.com
Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ponds, Francis, Jenkins Named MBB Players of the Week
NEW YORK (Dec. 18, 2018) --- Shamorie Ponds of undefeated St. John’s in Division I, and
Kendall Francis of Mount Saint Mary and
Curtis Jenkins of Molloy as co-winners in Divisions II-III, have been named Men’s Players of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Assn.
The designations, for games played Dec. 10-16, are unique in that they encompass players from 73 Met area schools across Divisions I, II and III.
A 6-1 junior guard from Brooklyn, NY, Ponds fell one rebound shy of the first triple-double in 20 years for the Red Storm (10-0), finishing with 16 points, 14 assists and nine boards in a 73-58 homecourt win over Wagner in St. John’s only game last week.
Ponds’ 14 assists marked a career-high and were the most by a St. John’s player since Omar Cook dished out 15 against Connecticut on Jan. 6, 2001. Only two SJU players in the history of the program have tallied more assists in a game than Ponds did on Sunday. He also committed just one turnover in 36 minutes of action, while shooting 57.1% (4-of-7) from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line.
A 5-10 junior guard from Great Neck, NY, Francis averaged 22.7 points in leading the Knights (7-1) to three victories --- including two in the Skyline Conference --- last week. He shot 51% (26-of-51) from the floor over the three games, including 40% (8-of-20) from 3-point territory, and averaged 4.3 rebounds.
Francis opened the week with 14 points in a 55-46 triumph at home over SUNY Purchase, then followed with a 17-point, four-rebound performance as Mount Saint Mary edged Mount Saint Vincent 59-55 on the road. Things got even tighter for the Knights in their third game of the week when Francis matched his career-high in scoring with 34 points --- built upon 7-of-13 shooting from downtown --- en route to a 95-89 double overtime non-league victory at Utica.
A 6-2 senior guard from Farmingdale, NY, Jenkins --- who also was named East Coast Conference player of the week --- averaged a stellar all-around 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 5.5 steals in sparking the Lions (7-3) to a 105-97 triumph at Bridgeport and a 95-76 homecourt win over Mercy.
He scored a career-high 30 points on 9-of-9 shooting from the field, along with registering seven rebounds, six steals and five assists, against Bridgeport. Jenkins wrapped up the week against Mercy with 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Players receiving MBWA Men’s Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Tareq Coburn, Hofstra; Zach Cooks, NJIT; Jalen Jordan, St. Francis; Myles Powell, Seton Hall; Calvin Whipple, Fairfield; Akwasi Yeboah, Stony Brook.
Players receiving MBWA Men’s Divisions II-III Honorable Mention for the week: Darin Dove, York; Tavon Ginyard, Dominican; Bryan Griffin, Mercy; Rob Lewis, Ramapo; Sam Toney, NJCU; Ryan Turell, Yeshiva; Peyton Wejnert, Pace.
Previous MBWA 2018-19 Men’s Players of the Week: Dec. 4, Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra, Div. I; Elijah Lott, Purchase, Divs. II-III . . . Dec. 11, Myles Powell, Seton Hall, Div. I; Andre Harris, Baruch, and Sean Smith Jr., Manhattanville, Divs. II-III.