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 Jan. 1-7 after leading the Catamounts to two conference victories. The award is selected by the league office.
 
Woolbright becomes the first Catamount to be named conference player of the week five times in one season. His five recognitions also tie him with Western Carolina Hall of Famer Kevin Martin, who played from 2001-04 in Cullowhee, for the second-most player of the week selections in school history.

Woolbright led Western Carolina to an 80-71 win at The Citadel on Jan. 3, before returning home to defeat Wofford, 70-66, on Jan. 6, giving the Catamounts their 10th straight win at home. The senior logged a double-double in both games, achieving the feat in the first half of each contest.
 
Against The Citadel, the Albany, Georgia, product had 22 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, shooting 8-for-18 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Woolbright recorded 18 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and a steal in the game versus Wofford.
 
For the week, Woolbright averaged 20.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Woolbright now has 12 double-doubles for the season, which is tied with Enrique Freeman of Akron for the most in the NCAA.
 
Western Carolina (13-2, 2-0 SoCon) travels to ETSU (9-6, 1-1) on Wednesday and Mercer (8-7, 1-1) on Saturday.
 
Other nominees: Quimari Peterson (ETSU), Mikeal Brown-Jones (UNCG), Achor Achor (Samford), Trey Bonham (Chattanooga) and Corey Tripp (Wofford)
 
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
Jan. 1               Jaden Seymour, Jr., F, ETSU
Jan. 8               Vonterius Woolbright, Sr., G, Western Carolina