From the SIAC:
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has announced its men’s and women’s basketball Players of the Week.
For women, Kayla Simmons (Lane) was named Player of the Week, while Jazeem Bethea (Allen) earned Newcomer of the Week.
For men, Stanley Christian (Allen) was named Player of the Week, while Brandon Miller (Miles) earned Newcomer of the Week, released by the league office on Tuesday.
Women’s Basketball
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kayla Simmons, Lane, Forward | Junior | Brandon, MS
Simmons had a monster week that included two SIAC West wins. In a road victory over Kentucky State, the junior forward scored 33 points on 13-of-16 shooting (83%) from the field and 7-for-9 from the free throw line. She added 25 points in a home win over rival LeMoyne-Owen. For the week, Simmons pulled down 14 rebounds in two games along with six steals.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK – Jazeem Bethea, Allen, Guard | Senior | Seattle, Washington
Jazeem Bethea has accumulated 69 points over the past three games, registering totals of 25, 25 and 19. In Allen’s contest against Savannah State, Bethea logged a season-high 25 points while shooting 7-13 from the field and 11-14 from the free-throw line. She followed up that performance matching her season-high with 25 points against Voorhees. In the victory over Voorhees, she shot 7-14 from the field and 10-13 from the free-throw line while logging seven rebounds. Bethea capped her stellar week off with 19 points and three rebounds against Fort Valley State.
OTHER PLAYERS NOMINATED
| WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Tyashia Bostick (Spring Hill); Le’Andrea Gillis (Savannah State); Torri Myers (Fort Valley State); Keondra Archie (Benedict); La’Quanza Glover (Edward Waters); Jazeem Bethea (Allen); Ashiala Jackson (Tuskegee) |
| WOMEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK | Ta’Quasia Lampkin (Savannah State); JuToreyia Willis (Tuskegee) |
Men’s Basketball
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Stanley Christian, Allen, Forward | Graduate Student | Virginia Beach, VA
Stanley Christian tallied 22 points and 17 rebounds against Savannah State. The Virginia Beach, Va., native followed up that impressive performance by registering 11 points and 13 rebounds against Fort Valley State to close out the week. Since joining the Yellow Jackets, Christian has led the team in scoring and rebounding.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK – Brandon Miller, Miles, Guard | Senior | Harvest, AL
In back-to-back performances, Miller tied – then broke – his career mark for single-game assists as Miles went 2-0. The senior point guard averaged 13 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and two steals. In a big road win at Tuskegee, Miller scored a career-high 23 points (6-of-7 FG, 5-of-6 3-pointers, 6-of-6 FT) and added 10 assists, which tied his career best. He then posted 12 assists, a new career-high, in a home win over Carver College.
OTHER PLAYERS NOMINATED
| MEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Tana Kopa (Spring Hill); Avery Joyner (Savannah State); Timothy Bing (Benedict); Yasim Hooker (Miles); Kimani Binder (Edward Waters) |
| MEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK | Beril Kabamba (Spring Hill); K. J. Doucet (Fort Valley State); Kimani Binder (Edward Waters) |
