NEW YORK (Jan. 17, 2023) --- Joel Soriano of St. John's has been named Division I Men’s Player of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
 
The designation, for games played Jan. 9-15, is unique in that it encompasses players from 21 Met area Division I schools.
 
Soriano was previously honored this season by the MBWA on Dec. 20.
 
A 6-11 senior center from Yonkers, NY, Soriano --- who also was selected the Naismith Trophy player of the week and was named to the Big East Conference weekly honor roll --- averaged team highs with a double-double of 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds as the Red Storm (13-6) downed Butler (77-61) at home on Tuesday and defeated then No. 6-ranked UConn (85-74) on the road on Sunday. For the week, Soriano drilled 17-of-23 shots (73.9%) from the field.
 
Soriano opened the week with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double on Tuesday at Carnesecca Arena against the Bulldogs. He shot 10-of-13 from the field and swatted away two Butler shots.
 
Then, on Sunday, Soriano scored 13 of his team-high 19 points in the second half to help lead the Johnnies to victory. He hit 7-of-10 attempts from the field and was 5-of-8 at the line. He pulled down 13 rebounds for his NCAA-leading 16th double-double of the season, which is tied for the most by a St. John’s player since Zendon Hamilton recorded 16 in 1995-96.
 
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Al-Amir Dawes, Seton Hall; Patrick Gardner, Marist; Dwight Murray Jr., Rider; Kevin Osawe, NJIT; Jalen Rucker, Army West Point; Cam Spencer, Rutgers; Warren Williams, Hofstra.