title image via UVI Athletics
Courtesy of Shaquille Richardson, SID, University of the Virgin Islands
University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) men’s basketball student-athlete Amayoa’ah Phillips was named the Historically Black College and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Newcomer of the Week. This award is reserved for transfer students who are new to the conference, and Phillips was chosen as the winner by the conference voting committee on Sunday night.
Phillips joined Southern University at New Orleans forward Jamal Gibson, who was named Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, and Chase Jackson of Oakwood University was recognized as Freshman of the Week as student-athletes who received conference honors for the week of December 16-22.
The reigning newcomer of the week established himself as an offensive force at the HBCUAC Crossover. He impressively scored over 20 points in three consecutive games against conference rivals Voorhees University, Wilberforce University, and Rust College.
Phillips, currently in his first season at the University of the Virgin Islands, made the move from Florida Gateway College where he averaged 19.3 points per game for the Timberwolves last season. As a junior, he now averages 19.7 points for his hometown Buccaneers. The St. Thomas, Virgin Islands native is his team’s leading scorer and the fourth-leading scorer in the HBCUAC. In addition to his offensive skills, the 6-foot-1 guard is a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end, averaging 2.4 steals per game and ranking fifth overall in the conference.
Phillips is the first UVI athlete to earn an in-season award thus far for the Buccaneers in the 2024-2025 campaign. However, his exceptional performances on the court consistently place him in the spotlight and solidify his presence in the conversation among top players in the league.
