SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI center Jake Stephens has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by GEICO for all contests from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2 after averaging 25.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in leading the Keydets to a 2-0 start to league play. The award is selected by the league office.
Stephens, who was also named the Lou Henson National Player of the Week, opened conference play with 27 points and 12 rebounds in an 80-73 win over Wofford on Wednesday. His point total was one shy of his season high, while his double-double was his fourth of the season and fourth straight. He was 11-for-13 (.846) from the floor and added six assists and two steals. His only two misses came from 3-point range, where he was 2-for-4. He made all three of his free-throw attempts.
Three days later, the senior from Bunker Hill, West Virginia, scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds in a 76-67 win over Furman, adding four assists and three blocked shots. He was 10-for-16 (.625) from the floor and hit his only free-throw attempt.
Stephens shot 72.4 percent from the floor on the week, making 21 of his 29 field-goal attempts.
VMI (9-5, 2-0 SoCon) won its first two conference games for the first time since opening Big South Conference play 2-0 in 2012-13. The Keydets, who are slated to visit ETSU (8-6, 0-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m., are 2-0 in SoCon play for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
Other nominees: Jaden Seymour (ETSU), Jalen Slawson (Furman), Silvio De Sousa (Chattanooga) and B.J. Mack (Wofford).
2021-22 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Nov. 15 Mike Bothwell, Sr., G, Furman
Nov. 22 Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
Nov. 29 Max Klesmit, So., G, Wofford
Dec. 6 Jalen Slawson, Sr., F, Furman
Dec. 13 Jake Stephens, Sr., C, VMI
Dec. 20 Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
Dec. 27 Ques Glover, So., G, Samford
Jan. 3 Jake Stephens, Sr., C, VMI
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