NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 16, 2021–
Senior guard Joe Bryant Jr. of Norfolk State has been named this season’s initial Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, it was announced today. Joining Bryant on the weekly honors roll list are
Howard graduate forward Randall Brumant, the Defensive Player of the Week, and
Howard freshman guard Elijah Hawkins, the Rookie of the Week.
Bryant (G, 6’1, 220, Sr. Norfolk, Va.) averaged 20 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.7 steals to help the Spartans jump out to a 3-0 start, their best start to a season since 1995-96. Bryant shot a blistering 57.6 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range and 95 percent from the free throw line. He had 18 points, three rebounds and three assists in an opening win over Bridgewater, followed by 14 points, six assists and three steals against Penn State Wilkes-Barre and with 28 points, eight rebounds and four steals versus Tennessee State.
Brumant (F, 6’7, 220, Grad., Houston, Tex.) led the Bison to victories over Bradley and Regent, posting averages of 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals, to go along with 13.5 points and 2.0 assists. His top performance was against Bradley, when he grabbed 10 boards, scored 11 points and dished out three assists.
Hawkins (G, 5’11, 160, Fr., Washington, D.C.) defied his freshman status while playing like an upperclassman in wins over Bradley and UDC, averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.5 rebounds. He had 23 points and four steals against UDC and followed that up with 14 points, six assists and two steals against Bradley.
Other Top Performers
Nendah Tarke (Coppin State) averaged 10.3 points along with 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 steals as the Eagles fell to DePaul, Rider, UConn and UNC Greensboro. He scored in double-figures in three of those contests.
Jesse Zarzuela (Coppin State) led the Eagles during a four-game week in which he averaged 15.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists. In a loss to DePaul, he scored 25 points with three rebounds.
Dominik Fragala (Delaware State) averaged 20.5 points, 4.0 steals and 3.0 steals in losses to Salisbury and Rider. He netted 31 points in the loss to Salisbury.
Zion Styles (Maryland Eastern Shore) averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists as the Hawks went 1-1 during the past week. He has 21 points and seven rebounds against Bryn Athyn.
Alex Caldwell (North Carolina Central) scored an NCCU career-high 17 points and added six boards in the season opener at Richmond. He was 4-of-4 from downtown against the Spiders.
Dontavius King (North Carolina Central) recorded two blocks against both Richmond and Memphis.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the 2021-22 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.