SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Wyatt Walker has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all games played Jan. 12-18. Walker averaged 20.0 points and 9.5 rebounds and shot 75 percent from the field as Samford split a pair of game last week, falling to ETSU (81-77) before topping Western Carolina (84-68).

The freshman opened the week with 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes against the Bucs, shooting 7-of-10 from the field.

In Saturday’s win over Western Carolina, Walker recorded a double-double with season highs in points (26) and rebounds (12) in just 27 minutes. The Jacksonville, Fla., native was 11-of-15 from the field to lead all scorers.

Walker ranks seventh in the league, and second among freshmen, with 5.7 rebounds per game. He has connected on 57 percent of his field goal attempts this season, which ranks fourth in the SoCon.

Samford (11-8, 2-4 SoCon) returns to action Thursday when the Bulldogs visit VMI (5-11, 0-5 SoCon).

Other top performers in the Southern Conference included The Citadel’s Derrick Henry, ETSU’s T.J. Cromer, Mercer’s Jestin Lewis, UNCG’s Francis Alonso, Chattanooga’s Tre’ McLean and Wofford’s Spencer Collins.

SoCon Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Nov. 17 – Mike Brown, Western Carolina
Nov. 24 – Stephon Jelks, Mercer
Dec. 1 – QJ Peterson, VMI
Dec. 9 – Mike Brown, Western Carolina
Dec. 15 – Matt Rose, Samford
Dec. 22 – Jestin Lewis, Mercer
Jan. 5 – Stephon Jelks, Mercer
Jan. 12 – T.J. Cromer, ETSU
Jan. 19 – Wyatt Walker, Samford