NEW YORK (Dec. 13, 2022) ---
Nelly Junior Joseph of Iona has been named Division I Men’s Player of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The designation, for games played Dec. 5-11, is unique in that it encompasses players from 21 Met area Division I schools.
A 6-9 junior forward from Benin City, Nigeria, Joseph --- who also was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the week --- averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while shooting a lofty 70.3% (19-of-27) from the field in leading the Gaels (6-2) to victories over St. Louis (84-62) and St. Bonaventure (72-57) last week.
Joseph registered 16 points, five rebounds and two blocks, with 8-of-13 shooting from the field, in a homecourt win over St. Louis on Dec. 6.
He closed his week at the Barclays Center on Dec. 11 against the Bonnies, when he posted a double-double with a season-high 24 points on 11-of-14 shots from the field and tied a season-high with 10 boards, while adding two blocks and two steals.
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Caleb Fields, Fairfield; Patrick Gardner, Marist; Darius Quiesenberry, Fordham; Demetre Roberts, Fairleigh Dickinson; Joel Soriano, St. John’s.
Previous MBWA 2022-23 Men’s Players of the Week: Dec. 6, Caleb McConnell, Rutgers.