INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Octavio Brito of Keene State College (Keene, NH) and Natalie Gricius of Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.) were named the Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending November 24.
Brito, a 6-4 senior guard from Lincoln, R.I., averaged a double-double in leading No. 7 (D3hoops.com) Keene State to a pair of non-home victories last week. Against Thomas (Maine) at the Williams College Purple and Gold Classic on Saturday, Brito scored 30 points (10-of-16 FG, 4-of-5 FT, 6-of-10 3FG) and added six rebounds, five assists and four steals in the Owls’ 109-78 win. The next day, against host then-No. 25 Williams, he double-doubled with 27 points (9-of-19 FG, 6-of-7 FT, 3-of-8 3FG) and 15 rebounds, while also contributing three assists and three blocks. For the week, Brito averaged 28.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 54.3 percent (19-of-35) from the field, 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the foul line, and 50.0 percent (9-of-18) from three-point range. For his efforts, Brito was also named the Purple and Gold Classic Most Valuable Player and the Little East Conference Player of the Week.
Gricius, a 5-10 junior forward from Oconomowoc, Wis., helped lead No. 13/RV (D3hoops.com, WBCA) Carroll to a pair of away-from-home victories. Playing against Olivet in the opening round of the Hope College Tournament on Friday, Gricius needed only 14 minutes to score 12 points (6-of-11) and grab four rebounds in the Pioneers’ 83-34 victory. Then, against host then-No. 12/14 Hope on Saturday, she finished with 27 points (9-of-14 FG, 8-of-9 FT, 1-of-4 3FG), including 12 of her team’s 13 in overtime as Carroll posted the 80-75 win. Gricius, who went 5-of-6 from the foul line in the final 19 seconds, also had eight rebounds, an assist and steal in the contest. For the week, she averaged 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.5 steals while shooting 60.0 percent (15-of-25) from the field, 88.9 percent (8-of-9) from the foul line, and 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from three-point range. For her efforts, Gricius was also named Hope Tournament Most Valuable Player and the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the 10th 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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.
2024-25 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 10: Lucas Lesko, Wilkes University; Destiny Matthews, Concordia University (Texas)
• Week ending Nov. 17: Adam Brazil, Hampden-Sydney College; Mary Schluesner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Nov. 24: Octavio Brito, Keene State University; Natalie Gricius, Carroll University