Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mamukelashvili, Singelton Secure Men's Players of the Week
NEW YORK (Feb. 9, 2021) ---
Sandro Mamukelashvili of Seton Hall in Division I and
Grant Singleton of St. Thomas Aquinas in Divisions II/III have been named Men’s Players of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The designations, for games played Feb. 1-7, are unique in that they encompass players from 72 Met area schools across Divisions I, II and III. Previous to this week for this season, the MBWA selected one overall Men’s Player of the Week. With all divisions now playing games, the association has reinstituted naming awards in Division I and in Divisions II/III.
A 6-11 senior forward from Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, Mamukelashvili --- who also was named Big East Conference player of the week --- averaged 21.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals in a 2-0 week on the road for the Pirates (11-8), who defeated Providence 60-43 and UConn 80-73.
At Providence, Mamukelashvili fueled The Hall’s second-half comeback with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, four rebounds and two steals. He finished with a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Next he had three critical second-half baskets to help the Pirates stave off a Huskies comeback bid. With UConn within two at 17:21, he buried a 3-pointer. When UConn got within four at 9:29, he again nailed a trey. And at 5:16 with the Huskies within five, he drove baseline and slammed home a huge dunk. Mamukelashvili finished with a game-high 22 points, shooting 10-of-12 at the free throw line.
A 6-0 junior guard from Sumter, SC, Singleton --- who also was named East Coast Conference co-player of the week --- averaged 24.0 points in victories by the Spartans (3-0) over Molloy and Mercy last week. He shot 65.5% (19-of-29) from the field and 50% (6-of-12) from 3-point range while adding 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
In defeating host Molloy 92-76, Singleton dropped 27 points, grabbed four rebounds and four assists, while connecting on 52.4% (11-of-21) of his tosses from the field
In a 119-77 romp at home over Mercy, Singleton scored 21 points in just 18 minutes on the court. He was perfect from the field (8-of-8) and from beyond the arc (3-of-3).
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Posh Alexander, St. John’s; Julian Champagnie, St. John’s; Myles Johnson, Rutgers; Melik Martin, Monmouth; Alex Morales, Wagner.
Players receiving MBWA Divisions II/III Honorable Mention for the week: Steve Breeman, Montclair State; Manley Dorme, Caldwell; Howard McBurnie Jr., Drew; James Montgomery, Molloy; Kerwin Prince, Mercy.
Previous MBWA 2020-21 Men’s Players of the Week:
Jan. 12, Tyler Thomas, Sacred Heart; Jan. 19, Julian Champagnie, St. John's; Jan. 26, Posh Alexander, St. John's; Feb. 2, Julian Champagnie, St. John's.