PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly men’s basketball honors for the week of Feb. 19-25.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Raynere Thornton · Jr. · G/F · Memphis · Marietta, Ga.
Thornton helped Memphis record two wins last week, extending the Tigers’ winning streak to four games with victories over No. 23 Houston and at UConn. Against Houston, Thornton posted a career-high 21 points, going 4 of 5 from three-point range. On Sunday, Thornton knocked down a career-best five three’s en route to 16 points against the Huskies.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Caleb Daniels · Fr. · G · Tulane · New Orleans, La.
Coming off the bench for Tulane, Daniels recorded his third and fourth straight games scoring in double figures. At No. 13 Wichita State, Daniels posted 10 of his 11 points in the first half, finishing 4 of 8 from the field. In Tulane’s win at USF, the freshman recorded 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting, adding four rebounds and two steals.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Junior Etou · R-Sr. · F · Tulsa · Republic of Congo
In a 1-1 week for Tulsa, Etou averaged 19.0 points and 4.5 rebounds. In the Golden Hurricane’s win over UCF, Etou notched 17 points and five boards before tallying a game-high 21 points against No. 11 Cincinnati.
Gary Clark · Sr. · F · Cincinnati · Clayton, N.C.
Clark averaged 17.0 points and 3.5 rebounds as No. 11 Cincinnati recorded victories over UConn and Tulsa. The senior’s seven rebounds pushed his active total to 1,054 boards, third-most among active players.
Quinton Rose · So. · G · Temple · Rochester, N.Y.
In Temple’s lone game of the week, Rose led the Owls into a tie for sixth in The American with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists in the Owls’ victory over UCF.
Rob Gray · Sr. · G · Houston · Forest City, N.C.
Gray led No. 23 Houston with 24.5 points and 9.0 assists on the week. At Memphis, the senior posted 30 points, sixth career game hitting the 30-point mark. Against ECU, Gray recorded the first double-double of his career with 19 points and 11 assists – all in the first half of the Cougars’ victory.
Shaquille Morris · R-Sr. · F · Wichita State · Edmond, Okla.
Morris helped No. 13 Wichita State push its winning streak to six games with wins over Tulane and at SMU. Morris topped 20 points in both victories, matching his career high with 25 points versus the Green Wave before a 21-point, 10-rebound effort against the Mustangs.