Emerging Stars in the OVC & MVC – Updated Walker Recognized Nationally

Five of Six Award Winners are New

(St. Louis, MO) – There are emerging stars in both the Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conferences. Five of this week’s six award winners are earning their first weekly honor. Only Tennessee Martin’s Matas Deniusas is a multi-week winner.

First Time Emerging Stars

Tennessee State’s Travis Harper II exploded for 50 points during the Tigers’ two victories. He set a TSU record with nine three-pointers against Tennessee Tech. Harper finished that game with 29 points and followed that performance with 21 against Little Rock. This week’s OVC ‘Player of the Week’ joins teammate Aaron Nkrumah (two times) as a winner of this honor. Harper is the OVC’s leading scorer (17.1).

All-MVC forward Chase Walker is enjoying a great stretch of games. He averaged 19.5 points per game last week, but has scored more than 15 points in each of his last four contests. The Illinois State post is this week’s MVC ‘Player of the Week’ as he helped the Redbirds to their first 4-0 league start since the 2016-17 season.

Walker has been named one of five U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week for games ending on Sunday, January 4. He was joined on the team by Rafael Castro (George Washington), Boopie Miller (SMU), Paulius Marauskas (St. Mary’s and Kahlil Singleton (Canisius).

Newcomers Making Their Mark

With the absence of Jadis Jones (sickness) from the Lindenwood lineup, Dontrez Williams picked up more of his team’s offensive load. The Abilene Christian transfer scored 41 points during the Lions’ two victories. He reached the 20-point mark in each game on his way to earning the OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’ honor.

Owen Dease is emerging as a major scoring threat for Valparaiso. The 6’8 wing averaged 17 points-per-game over the Beacons’ three contests. This week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’ has been electric from the free throw line where his fifth best in the MVC (.872).

Emerging Freshmen

Deniusas is the OVC ‘Freshman of the Week’ for a UT Martin record seventh time! Deniusus averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds during the Skyhawks’ two victories. He is the OVC’s top-scoring rookie (14.3).

Valparaiso’s J.T. Pettigrew is one of the Valley’s emerging stars. The 6’8 forward averaged 15 points and seven rebounds during three Beacon games. Pettigrew made all ten of his free throws during Sunday’s contest. This is Pettigrew’s first ‘Freshman of the Week’ award, joining his teammate Rakim Chaney (2 times) as Beacon rookies being noticed for their outstanding play.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo of Chase Walker, courtesy of goredbirds.com.