NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 23, 2019 — Junior guard MJ Randolph of Florida A&M University has been tabbed MEAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, it was announced today.  Meanwhile, senior forward/center Cletrelle Pope of Bethune-Cookman University is the Defensive Player of the Week, while freshman guard Da’Shawn Phillip of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is the Rookie of the Week.
 
Randolph (G, Jr., 6-4, Pensacola, Fla.) averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in a week that saw the FAMU Rattlers defeat Seattle, 71-57, after falling to Washington State, 73-67.  In the WSU game, Randolph scored 21 points and added two rebounds and two steals.  In the victory over Seattle, he scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and collected four assists and two steals.
 
Pope (F/C, Sr., 6-9, Northport, Ala.) scored 20 points while going 5-for-7 from the field and 10-for-12 from the line in the B-CU Wildcats’ 85-56 win over Marist. He added eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.  In a five-point (70-65) loss to Central Florida, he scored six points and grabbed six rebounds.
 
Phillip (G, Fr., 6-5, Baltimore, Md.) averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in a week that saw the UMES Hawks fall to East Carolina (71-57), Charlotte (66-44) and Old Dominion (76-52).  His best outings came in the ECU game, when he netted eight points and grabbed two rebounds, and CU, when he scored five points and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
Other Top Performers
Isiaih Bailey (B-CU) averaged 17.0 points, 6-0 rebounds and 1.5 assists as the B-CU Wildcats went 1-1 during the week.  He had an 18-point, 10-rebound outing in the 85-56 win over Marist.
 
Jibri Blount (NCCU) collected 18 points and six rebounds in a 69-60 loss to Louisiana Tech.  He added one blocked shot and one steal in that contest.
 
Steven Whitley (NSU) averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in a week that saw the Spartans defeat Bowling Green (72-67) and fall to Drexel (53-49).  He had 16 points with five rebounds against Bowling Green and 13 points against Drexel.
 
Koby Thomas (CSU) scored 12 points and snatched 10 boards in a 91-60 loss at Miami (Fla.).
 
Justyn King (B-CU) averaged 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in a week that saw the Wildcats defeat Marist (85-56) after falling to Central Florida (70-65).  He had eight points and seven rebounds in the UCF game.