SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its December athletes of the month for men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling Tuesday, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month.
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jake Stephens, VMI, Sr., C, Bunker Hill, W.Va.

• Averaged 21.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game and shot 57.6 percent from the floor in helping VMI to a 4-1 record in the month
• Notched double-doubles in four of his five games
• Had 28 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots, all season highs, in a win over Gardner-Webb on Dec. 11, earning SoCon Player of the Week presented by GEICO honors
• Averaged 20.5 points and 8.0 boards in wins at Portland and Seattle to open the month and had 12 points and 10 rebounds in a seven-point loss at Wake Forest on Dec. 14
• Closed the month with 27 points and 12 boards in a win at Wofford on Dec. 29, which contributed to his being named the SoCon Player of the Week again and being named the Lou Henson National Player of the Week

 
Others nominated: Hayden Brown (The Citadel), Ledarrius Brewer (ETSU), Jalen Slawson (Furman), Felipe Haase (Mercer), De’Monte Buckingham (UNCG), Ques Glover (Samford), Malachi Smith (Chattanooga), Nicholas Robinson (Western Carolina) and B.J. Mack (Wofford).
 
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Tierra Hodges, Furman, 5th, G/F, Covington, Ga.

• Averaged a double-double with 16.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game across seven contests
• Recorded five double-doubles and fell just short of a sixth, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds at Kennesaw State on Dec. 6
• Netted at least 12 points in six of seven contests and 20-plus in a pair, including a career-high 28 in an 86-68 win at Charleston Southern on Dec. 16
• Added nine assists and 11 steals in the month
• Leads the league in rebounds (11.5 per game) and minutes per game (33.9), second in scoring (15.8 points per game), third in free-throw percentage (86.8 percent) and eighth in steals (1.3 per game)

 
Others nominated: Courtney Moore (ETSU), Jaron Dougherty (Mercer), Andrea Cournoyer (Samford), Abbey Cornelius (Chattanooga) and Jackie Carman (Wofford).
 
 
WRESTLING
Will Formato, App State, R-Jr., 165, Acworth, Ga.

• Went 3-0 at 165 pounds in December with a combined score of 23-2 and one victory against a nationally ranked opponent
• Earned a 6-1 decision over NC State's No. 15 Thomas Bullard on Dec. 12, earning SoCon Wrestler of the Week honors and marking Formato's second ranked win of the season and the second straight year he defeated a higher-ranked Bullard in a dual setting
• Secured a 5-0 shutout victory over Sonny Santiago of No. 20 North Carolina on Dec. 17
• Earned a 12-1 major decision over Bellarmine's Devan Hendricks in App State's first SoCon dual of the season on Dec. 19
• Improved to 8-2 overall this season and 18-5 in duals during his App State career and is ranked 17th in the Flo Rankings

 
Others nominated: Josh Heil (Campbell), Michael McAleavey (The Citadel), Noah Castillo (Chattanooga) and Tyler Mousaw (VMI).
 
 
Southern Conference December Athletes of the Month
Men’s basketball                                    Jake Stephens, VMI
Women’s basketball                               Tierra Hodges, Furman
Wrestling                                               Will Formato, App State