NEW YORK (Feb. 18, 2025) ---
Jacob Morales of Montcliar State University has been named Divisions II/III Men’s Player of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The designation, for games played Feb. 10-16, is unique in that it encompasses players from 49 Met area schools across Divisions II and III.
This is the second MBWA weekly award for Morales in three weeks.
A 6-4 junior forward from Montvale, NJ, Morales averaged 27.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals in propelling the New Jersey Athletic Conference-leading Red Hawks (18-6, 13-4 NJAC) to an 89-85 overtime victory at NJCU on Wednesday and a 97-78 triumph at Kean on Saturday.
Morales drilled 63.6% (21-of-33) of his shots from the field, including 56.3% (9-of-16) from beyond the arc, and all four of his free throws in the two triumphs.
He scored 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field --- 4-of-10 from deep --- and contributed five steals in the OT win at New Jersey City.
Morales then tallied 29 points, going 11-of-14 from the floor and 5-of-6 from 3-point range, along with posting six rebounds and seven assists to push Montclair past homestanding Kean.
In the game, Morales reached a single-season program-record 89 3-point goals, eclipsing the 85 mark set by Steven Breeman during the 2022-23 campaign.
Players receiving MBWA Divisions II/III Honorable Mention for the week: Aliou Cisse, Bridgeport; Zay Freeney, NYU; Andres Fulgencio, Adelphi; Cameron Gallon, Western Connecticut; Peter Gorman, Ramapo; Derrick James, St. Thomas Aquinas; Avery Lee, Vassar; Rob Matos, Molloy; Gerard Nicholson, Baruch; Rashid Nikiema, Purchase; Ethan Robertson, Mercy; Andrew Saint-Louis, Manhattanville.
Previous MBWA 2024-25 Divisions II/III Men’s Players of the Week: Dec. 10,
Jaden Kealey, Pace; Dec. 17,
Peter Gorman, Ramapo; Jan. 7,
Justin Morton, Kean; Jan. 14,
Jonathan Grimsley, Medgar Evers; Jan. 21,
Jack Spellman, Stevens; Jan. 28,
Peter Gorman, Ramapo; Feb. 4,
Jacob Morales, Montclair State; Feb. 11,
Cam Edmonds, Georgian Court.
--- www.metbasketballwriters.org ---