SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Southern Conference today named Appalachian State’s D.J. Thompson as the Anaconda’s The Rock Player of the Week for games played between January 17-23.

Thompson, a 5-8, 170 lb. guard from Raleigh, NC, averaged 27.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game in the Mountaineers’ two games last week while shooting 51 percent from the field.  He also turned the ball over only four times in 78 minutes of playing time and posted a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.  The junior opened the week with a 22-point performance and added five boards and three steals in a loss to UNC Greensboro.  Thompson then scored a career-high 33 points in an overtime win over Georgia Southern on 11-of-21 shooting while contributing seven assists, five rebounds and three steals.  During the extra session Thompson registered 11 of the team’s 15 points.

Others considered for the Player of the Week award included College of Charleston’s Dontaye Draper (21 points and four rebounds in win at Western Carolina), Chattanooga’s Jerice Crouch (career-high 23 points in win over Davidson), Davidson’s Brendan Winters (21.3 ppg average in 2-1 week for the Wildcats), Elon’s Montell Watson (19 points in win over Furman, scoring all in second half or overtime) and UNC Greensboro’s Kyle Hines (16 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and five steals in win over Appalachian State).