#HLMBB Players of the Week: Feb. 5
Lance Rinker
INDIANAPOLIS — Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Drew McDonald garnered his first Player of the Week award after averaging 22.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and five assists in a pair of wins. Meanwhile, Cleveland State’s Tyree Appleby earned his fourth Freshman of the Week honor after a solid weekend which included an upset victory over first-place Wright State.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Drew McDonald | Northern Kentucky | Jr. | Forward/Center | Cold Spring, Ky.
McDonald averaged 22.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals, and one block en route to leading Northern Kentucky to a perfect 2-0 record on the road, with wins at Youngstown State (95-85) and Cleveland State (78-61). The Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year posted a 26-point, 16-rebound effort at Youngstown State on Thursday, converting nine of his 11 shot attempts. He followed up that stellar performance with 19 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high seven assists in the Norse’s victory at Cleveland State on Saturday. For the weekend, he converted 74 percent of his shots (17-23 FG), including 50-percent marksmanship from 3-point range (3-6 3FG). McDonald now leads the Horizon League in double-doubles (11) and has the Norse in first place in the league standings at 10-2 alongside Wright State.
2017-18 Players of the Week
Nov. 13 – Kendrick Nunn, Oakland
Nov. 20 – Lavone Holland II, Northern Kentucky
Nov. 27 – Kameron Chatman, Detroit Mercy
Dec. 4 – Martez Walker, Oakland
Dec. 11 – Jalen Hayes, Oakland
Dec. 18 – Kendrick Nunn, Oakland
Dec. 26 – Jalen Hayes, Oakland
Jan. 2 – Sandy Cohen III, Green Bay
Jan. 8 – Cameron Morse, Youngstown State
Jan. 15 – Grant Benzinger, Wright State
Jan. 22 – Kendrick Nunn, Oakland
Jan. 29 – Khalil Small, Green Bay
Feb. 5 – Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Tyree Appleby | Cleveland State | Fr. | Guard | Jacksonville, Ark.
Appleby averaged 15 points, 3.5 assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in a pair of games last week. In Thursday’s win over first-place Wright State, he posted 17 points, four assists, and two steals, finishing just one point shy of matching senior Bobby Word for the Vikings’ team-best point total. In Saturday’s setback to first-place Northern Kentucky, he recorded 13 points, three assists, three rebounds, and two blocks. He shot 9-of-19 (.474) from the field in the two games and connected on all but three of his free throw attempts (8-11 FT).
2017-18 Freshmen of the Week
Nov. 13 – Everett Winchester, Wright State
Nov. 20 – Jermaine Jackson Jr., Detroit Mercy
Nov. 27 – Everett Winchester, Wright State
Dec. 4 – Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
Dec. 11 – Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
Dec. 18 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Dec. 26 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Jan. 2 – P.J. Pipes, Green Bay
Jan. 8 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Jan. 15 – Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
Jan. 22 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Jan. 29 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Feb. 5 – Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
