SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina guard Vonterius Woolbright has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all contests from Dec. 18-24 after logging two double-doubles last week. The award is selected by the league office.
 
Woolbright, who won the award for the second straight week and fourth time overall this season, led the Catamounts to a 63-62 upset win at Vanderbilt on Dec. 19. Two days later, Western Carolina defeated Brescia, 85-47, to grab its fourth straight victory before Christmas.
 
Against Vanderbilt, the Albany, Georgia, product finished with 22 points, including the game-winning bucket with 1.5 seconds left. He also had 12 rebounds and three assists versus the Commodores. In the game with Brescia, the senior recorded 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, along with seven assists and a pair of steals.
 
For the week, Woolbright averaged 19.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 12-for-28 (.429) shooting from the field and 12-for-16 (.750) from the free-throw line. After having double-doubles in both games last week, Woolbright now holds the lead for double-doubles in the nation with nine this season.
 
Western Carolina (10-2) plays its final nonconference game of the regular season against King on Saturday.
 
Other nominees: Elijah Morgan (The Citadel), Jaden Seymour (ETSU), Garrett Hein (Furman), Jalyn McCreary (Mercer), A.J. Staton-McCray (Samford) and Taeshaud Jackson (VMI)
 
2023-24 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 13             Vonterius Woolbright, Sr., G, Western Carolina
Nov. 20             Keyshaun Langley, Gr., G, UNCG
Nov. 27             Mikeal Brown-Jones, Sr., F, UNCG
Dec. 4              Vonterius Woolbright, Sr., G, Western Carolina
Dec. 11             Alex Williams, Jr., F, Furman
Dec. 18             Vonterius Woolbright, Sr., G, Western Carolina
Dec. 25             Vonterius Woolbright, Sr., G, Western Carolina