PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly men’s basketball honors for the week of Jan. 9-15.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sterling Taplin · So. · G · Tulsa · East Amherst, N.Y.
Taplin earns his first player of the week accolade after leading Tulsa to an unbeaten week in conference play as the Golden Hurricane defeated Memphis and Temple. Running the point, Taplin averaged 15.5 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals while shooting 55-percent from the field and 50-percent from three-point range. Against Memphis, Taplin scored a career-high 17 points and tied a season best with 6 assists. The sophomore closed the week by hitting the game-winning layup with 0:04 left on the clock. Taplin ended the game with 14 points, a career-high five steals and four assists.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Vance Jackson · Fr. · F · UConn · Los Angeles
For the first time this season, Jackson collects rookie of the week accolades after helping the Huskies split a pair of games against Temple and Georgetown. In UConn’s victory over Temple, Jackson recorded 10 points to going with five rebounds. The freshman notched 13 points against Georgetown. For the week, Jackson was 9-of-16 from the field.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Kyle Washington · Jr. · F · Cincinnati · Chaplin, Minn.
Averaging a team-high 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, Washington led No. 22 Cincinnati to a 2-0 week in American play. Washington registered his sixth double-double of the season in UC’s 55-46 road win at East Carolina, tallying a team-high 16 points, game-best 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Junior Etou · R-Jr. · F · Tulsa · Republic of Congo
Etou averaged a double-double as Tulsa went 2-0 on the week with 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. The junior had a career-best 23 points and 13 rebounds against Memphis before a 15-point, nine-rebound performance at Temple.
B.J. Taylor · R-So. · G · UCF · Orlando, Fla.
Taylor led five Knights in double figures with 20 points as UCF improved to 4-1 in The American. Taylor added three assists and two steals as the Knights won their 13
th game of the season, eclipsing last season’s total.
Jalen Adams · So. · G · UConn · Roxbury, Mass.
Adams recorded his second double-double of the season in UConn’s victory over Temple, handing out 12 assists to go along with 11 points and seven assists. The sophomore fell one assist shy of a double-double against Georgetown, finishing with a game-high 22 points and nine assists.
Rob Gray · R-Jr. · G · Houston · Forest City, N.C.
In a 1-1 week for the Cougars, Gray led Houston in scoring twice, averaging 23.5 points per game. Returning to his home state, Gray had 19 points in a win at East Carolina. With 28 points at UCF, Gray recorded his second-highest total of the season and 11
th game with at least 20 points.