NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 20, 2023 – North Carolina Central guard Fred Cleveland Jr. was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola. Coppin State guard Ryan Archey was named Rookie of the Week, while CSU teammate forward Justin Winston earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively.

Cleveland Jr. (G, 5-9, 165, Sr., Chicago, Ill.) averaged 21.5 points and seven assists in two wins last week for North Carolina Central. He scored 13 points and recorded a career-high 10 assists against North Carolina A&T. He upped the ante with his second 30-point game of the season, connecting on 10-of-19 shots from the field, with six 3-pointers, two rebounds, four assists and four steals.  

Archey (G, 6-0, 170, Gr., Clinton, Md.) scored 12 points, grabbed five boards, and recorded two assists and one steal, all season highs, against Georgetown. He shot 56 percent (5-of-9) from the field and was perfect from behind the arc (1-for-1) and at the free-throw line (1-for-1).  

Winston (F, 6-8, 220, Sr., West Orange, NJ) recorded a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds against Georgetown. He added one blocked shot and one steal in 35 minutes of play.  

Other Top Performers  

Jaylani Darden (Norfolk State) scored 14 points, hitting perfectly from the field (6-of-6), with two boards, five assists, one block, and two steals against Southern Virginia. 

Chris Fields (Norfolk State) shot 67 percent from the field en route to 13 points, three rebounds and dishing out two steals against Southern Virginia. 

Bryce Harris (Howard) tallied 35 total points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three steals in three games last week for the Bison. 

Amahrie Simpkins (Morgan State) scored 11 of his game- and season-high 23 points in the first half to pace the Bears in their tough loss at Campbell. 

Jamarii Thomas (Norfolk State) recorded 28 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal against Stony Brook.
Isiah Warfield (Howard) finished the week with 10 assists, six steals, and 32 points in three non-conference games last week.