INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Jack Davidson of Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Ind.) and Anaya Simmons of Christopher Newport University (Newport News, Va.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending February 27.
Davidson, a 6-1 senior guard from Fishers, Ind., helped No. 15 (D3hoops.com) Wabash (24-3) win three games and capture the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament Championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. He scored a season-high 37 points (13-of-18 FG, 5-of-5 FT, 6-of-10 3FG), and added three rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block in the Little Giants' 101-79 win over Hiram on Tuesday. On Friday, Davidson had 32 points (9-of-15 FG, 8-of-9 FT, 6-of-7 3FG), five rebounds and an assist in a 98-74 victory over Denison. The next night, in the NCAC Championship Game, he played all 45 minutes of Wabash's 85-84 overtime win against Wooster. Davidson finished with 28 points (9-of-22 FG, 6-of-7 FT, 4-of-9 3FG), 12 rebounds, five assists, and a steal. Over the three games, Davidson averaged 32.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks while shooting 56.4 percent (31-55) from the field, 90.5 percent (19-of-21) from the foul line and 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from three-point range. Also named the NCAC Tournament MVP, Davidson currently leads NCAA Division III in three-point percentage (.498), is second in three-pointers made (107) and third in scoring (25.2 ppg).
Simmons, a 5-10 junior forward from Williamsburg, Va., helped lead top-ranked (D3hoops.com) Christopher Newport to a pair of victories, the Coast-to-Coast Conference Tournament Championship and the subsequent NCAA Division III Tournament bid. She scored 23 points (10-of-14 FG, 3-of-7 FT) – including 16 of her team’s first 20 – grabbed five rebounds, recorded two assists, and added three steals in only 25 minutes as the Captains (24-0) defeated Mary Washington on Friday. In the championship game against UC Santa Cruz on Saturday, Simmons posted a double-double with 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-10 FT) and 13 rebounds, while adding an assist, steal and two blocks in the 71-64 victory. For the week, she averaged 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 70.8 percent (17-of-24) from the field, and 47.1 percent (8-17) from the foul line. Named Tournament MVP, Simmons and the Captains have won 41 consecutive games, the longest streak among any NCAA division.
Each Tuesday during the 2021-22 season, the USBWA selected men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. The program resumed after a one-season hiatus, and this was the seventh season that the USBWA recognized national players of the week from Division III. These are the final selections of the season.
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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.