NEW YORK (Feb. 4, 2025) ---
Jacob Morales of Montclair 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 Jan. 27-Feb. 2, is unique in that it encompasses players from 49 Met area schools across Divisions II and III.
This is the first MBWA weekly award for Morales.
A 6-4 junior forward from Montvale, NJ, Morales --- who also was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference player of the week --- averaged 29.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in sparking the NJAC co-leading Red Hawks (15-5, 10-3) to a pair of homecourt victories last week.
Montclair State toppled William Paterson 123-92 on Wednesday, then defeated Rutgers-Camden 89-74 on Saturday, as Morales displayed 67.7% accuracy (21-of-31) from the field, including 61.9% shooting (13-of-21) from 3-point range.
During a record-setting game in which the Red Hawks broke their single-game mark for points scored (123) and 3-pointers made (24), Morales led the way with a 40-point, 10-rebound double-double that included nailing 9-of-11 shots from beyond the arc. His nine treys are tied for sixth most in NCAA Division III this season.
Morales returned on Saturday and posted 19 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals as Montclair State swept to its seventh consecutive victory.
Players receiving MBWA Divisions II/III Honorable Mention for the week: D.J. Alicea, Kean; Jeremiah Cardi, John Jay; Melvin Evans, Caldwell; Brandon Goldberg, Baruch; Peter Gorman, Ramapo; Andrew Saint-Louis, Manhattanville; Zevi Samet, Yeshiva; Matthew Zenker, Drew.
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.
--- www.metbasketballwriters.org ---