NEW YORK (Feb. 7, 2023) ---
Jayden Dewaal of Mercy has been named Divisions II/III Men’s Player of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The designation, for games played Jan. 30-Feb. 5, is unique in that it encompasses players from 45 Met area schools across Divisions II and III.
A 6-8 junior forward-center from Toronto, Canada, Dewaal --- who also was selected the East Coast Conference player of the week --- registered a pair of double-doubles in averaging 21.5 points, 18.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 blocks as the Mavericks (3-17) defeated Cheyney 95-51 at home and then were edged 84-83 at Roberts Wesleyan. Overall for the week he shot 62.1% (18-of-29) from the field.
Dewaal began his week on Wednesday with 17 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks and three assists against Cheyney.
He closed the week on Saturday with a game-high 26 points and 21 rebounds, along with two blocks and four assists, at Roberts Wesleyan.
NOTE: Mousa Sinera of Medgar Evers, a 6-5 senior forward from the Bronx, N.Y., set an all-time NCAA Division III single game record with 43 rebounds on Jan. 31 in a 128-123 overtime homecourt loss to Hunter. Currently second this season nationally in total rebounds (306) and rebounds per game (13.9), Sinera --- who was named the CUNY Athletic Conference player of the week --- eclipsed the previous Division III single game mark of 36 rebounds shared by Mark Veenstra of Calvin (1976) and Clinton Montford of Methodist (1989). The overall all-time NCAA single game rebounds record is 53 set by Jim Roberts of Sewanee in 1958. Later in his week Sinera snared 21 rebounds in a 79-53 defeat at York to reach an even 1,000 caroms for his college career.
Players receiving MBWA Divisions II/III Honorable Mention for the week: Jamal Barnes, STAC; Ryan Donovan, SUNY Maritime; Terrell Fullerton, York; Peter Gorman, Ramapo; Wahaad Johnson, Dominican; Devin Nicholson, Baruch; Bryan Powell, Pace; Kendall Robinson, WestConn; Zevi Samet, Yeshiva; Mousa Sinera, Medgar Evers; Drew Zalecsik, USMMA.
Previous MBWA 2022-23 Divisions II/III Men’s Players of the Week: Dec. 6,
Jack Spellman, Stevens; Dec. 13,
Messiah Mallory, Staten Island; Dec. 20,
Griffin Barker, Kean; Jan. 10,
JJ Chestnut, CSI and Yassine Sakhi, CCNY; Jan. 17,
Kendall Robinson, WestConn; Jan. 24,
Terrell Fullerton, York; Jan. 31,
Bryce Bristow, USMMA.
--- www.metbasketballwriters.org ---