ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Darian Hooker of the New York Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.) and Shareta Brown of Wayne State University (Detroit, Mich.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending Feb. 8.
Hooker, a 6-1 senior guard from Washington, D.C., registered a pair of 40-point games, the first two of his career in a pair of East Coast Conference games last week. For the week, Hooker averaged 41.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.0 steals for NYIT (9-12, 6-7 ECC), which lost at home to Dowling, 86-85, and picked up a 114-103 overtime win on the road at Bridgeport.
Hooker played all 85 minutes of last week's games for NYIT, hitting 15-of-27 from the field including 7-of-13 three-pointers in the 40-point, eight-assist performance against Dowling on Feb. 4. Three days later, Hooker hit 12-of-22 from the field and 4-of-7 three-pointers, and he sank 15-of-18 free throws to finish with 43 points and seven assists in the overtime win over Bridgeport. The 43 points ranks third all-time on NYIT's individual single-game scoring list.
Brown, a 6-1 senior center from Pontiac, Mich., was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference South Division Player of the Week for the sixth time this season after averaging 23.3 points, 14.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game last week. She also shot 61 percent from the floor while helping the Warriors to three wins.
Brown recorded the second triple-double in women's history at Wayne State in last Monday's win over Findlay with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, while also collecting five steals. She followed that performance with 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists in just 21 minutes against Tiffin. In Saturday's road victory at Ohio Dominican, Brown totaled 33 points, 20 rebounds and four assists. The three victories move Wayne State to 19-2 overall, including 15-2 in the GLIAC.
This is the second national player of the week honor for Brown, who was also selected for the week of January 4.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division II National Players of the Week. This is the first season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division II.
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.
2014-15 USBWA Division II National Players of the Week
Week ending Dec. 7: Derrick White, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Sarah Nelson, Dominican
· Week ending Dec. 14: Tyler Kelly, Florida Southern and Abby Kirchoff, Colorado-Colorado Springs
· Week ending Jan. 4: Eric Anderson, New Haven and Shareta Brown, Wayne State
· Week ending Jan. 11: Gerald Beverly, Daemen College and Natalie Piaggesi, Mercyhurst
· Week ending Jan. 18: Joe Lawson, Indianapolis and Morgan Pullins, St. Mary's (Texas)
· Week ending Jan. 25: Alex Herrera, Fort Lewis College and Taylor Beverly, West Georgia
· Week ending Feb. 1: Derrick White, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Nettie Blake, Gannon University
· Week ending Feb. 8: Darian Hooker, NYIT and Shareta Brown, Wayne State
· Week ending Feb. 15: Garret Kerr, University of the Sciences and Schontiquah White, West Texas A&M
· Week ending Feb. 22: Nick Harney, Fairmont State and Amy Philamlee, Union (Tenn.)