ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Keith Brown of Endicott College (Beverly, Mass.) and Kelly Williams of Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, Va.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending November 19.
Brown, a 6-2 sophomore guard from Pelham, N.H., averaged 41.5 points in the Gulls (2-0) two opening-week victories. Competing at the Babson Invitational, Brown scored 38 points (13-of-26 FG, 2-of-2 FT, 10-of-19 3FG) as Endicott defeated Regis 75-70 on Saturday. His 10 three-pointers set a team record and are tied for the most in a Division III game this season. Brown also totaled six rebounds, two steals and a block in the game. Then, on Sunday against defending National Champion Babson (No. 7, d3hoops.com), he scored 45 points (15-of-25 FG, 5-of-5 FT, 10-of-15 3FG) · just two short of the Endicott single-game record · as the Gulls registered a 90-80 victory. Selected MVP of the tournament, Brown finished the weekend averaging 41.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks. He shot 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field, 58.8 percent (20-of-34) from three-point range and a perfect 100 percent (7-of-7) from the foul line. For his efforts, Brown was also named the Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Week.
Williams, a 6-3 sophomore forward from Garysburg, N.C., averaged a 20-plus double-double for the Yellow Jackets during their opening 2-1 week. In a 78-73 win vs. Marymount (Va.) (No. 14, D3hoops.com) on Wednesday, Williams played all 40 minutes and totaled a career-high 34 points (11-of-18 FG, 12-of-16 FT), and added 22 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and six blocks. On Friday in a 65-62 loss to Juniata, she again played the entire contest and contributed 21 points (8-of-26 FG, 5-of-16 FT), a career-best 25 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks. Then, on Saturday in a 72-41 win over Methodist, Williams played 30 minutes and finished with 25 points (11-of-21 FG, 3-of-5 FT), 18 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four blocks. For the week, she averaged 26.6 points, 21.6 rebounds, 4.3 blocks, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals. Williams was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Randolph-Macon Tip-Off Classic and Player of the Week in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the fourth season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.
2017-18 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 19: Keith Brown, Endicott College
and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
·
Week ending Nov. 26: Brayden Olson, Benedictine
and Dani Reinwald, Medaille
· Week ending
Dec. 3: Hamed Shamseldin, The College at Brockport and Bryce Frank, Austin College
· Week ending Dec. 10: Justin Webster, Adrian
College and Georgia Bourikas, Suffolk University
·
Week ending Dec. 17: Lavrone Green, New Jersey
City and Kendrea Williams, FDU-Florham
·
Week ending Dec. 31: Marcus Dempsey, Muskingum
University and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
·
Week ending Jan. 7: Sam Light, Lebanon Valley
College and Alecia Rohrer, Messiah College
·
Week ending Jan. 14: Ryan Bruns, Ohio Northern
University and Casey Poe, Whitman College
·
Week ending Jan. 21: Jake Ross, Springfield
College and Mikayla Hodge, Lyndon State College
·
Week ending Jan. 28: Marcus Dempsey, Muskingum
College and Andrea Iavarone, St. Joseph's College-Long Island
·
Week ending Feb. 4: Josh Freund, Roanoke College
and Kelsey Burton, Lake Forest College
·
Week ending Feb. 11: Myles Copeland, Trine University
and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
·
Week ending Feb. 18: Mike Rapoza, Anna Maria College
and Madison Temple, Thomas More College
·
Week ending Feb. 25: Caleb Johnson, Berry College
and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College