Men's Basketball

LaBelle, Reaves Named Men's Basketball Players of the Week

LANCASTER, Pa. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Men's Basketball Players of the Week on Monday, as Centenary University's Chris LaBelle earned Player of the Week and Marymount's Xavier Reaves grabbed Defensive Player of the Week.

Player of the Week:
Name: Chris LaBelle
School: Centenary University
Class: Grad
Position: Guard
Hometown: Hamilton, NJ
High School: Trenton Catholic Academy
Brief Outlook of Week: LaBelle averaged 32 points, 6 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.5 rebounds per game while leading the Cyclones to a 1-1 mark against tough competition. The graduate student shot 47.2% from the field and was an impressive 27-for-31 from the foul line in the two games combined. LaBelle started his week with a game-high 25 points, eight assists and six steals in the win over Rutgers Newark. On Saturday against Montclair State, LaBelle scored 23 of his season-high 39 points as the Cyclones fell just short in a comeback attempt. The graduate student added nine rebounds, seven steals and four assists in the game. LaBelle was 14-for-16 from the foul line in the contest and his 14 makes from the foul line, ranks fifth in single-game history at Centenary.


Defensive Player of the Week:
Name: Xavier Reaves
School: Marymount University
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Burtonsville, MD
High School: Paint Branch
Brief Outlook of Week: Reaves led the Saints in a trio of tough matchups this past week and helped MU earn its first win of the season over Ramapo. The senior averaged a double-double across three games with 22.0 ppg and 11.3 rpg. Reaves shot 57.8% from the floor and 42.1% from three-point range. He started the week off with a double-double against Rowan University with 36 points, 16 rebounds, seven steals, and three assists. In MU's win over Ramapo College, Reaves tallied 13 points to go along with nine boards, and four steals. He wrapped up the weekend with a 17-point, nine-rebound outing against Rose Hulman Institute of technology. As a result of his efforts, Reaves was named to the Pablo Coto All-Tournament Team.


Weekly Honor Roll:
Keith Farmer (Immaculata / Junior): Farmer turned in a strong defensive showing in the Macs' game against Ursinus on Saturday. Farmer recorded a team-leading 13 rebounds (12 defensive) and one block on the game. He also contributed offensively, scoring 14 points on the game.

D'Angelo Blackmond (Centenary / Junior): Blackmond was a force on the boards while leading the Cyclones to a 1-1 mark against tough competition. The junior forward averaged 11.5 rebounds per game while also adding 13.5 points per game. He shot 52.9% from the field and was 8-for-11 from the foul line. Blackmond contributed eight boards, five points and a block in the win over Rutgers Newark. He then exploded for 22 points and game-high 15 rebounds for his second double-double of the season in a tough loss to Montclair State.


Previous Players of the Week:
Tyler Norwood, Neumann & Donaven Spencer, Gwynedd Mercy, 11/8/21
Billy Veras, Centenary & Ryan Byras, Cabrini - 11/15/21