LANCASTER, Pa. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Men’s Basketball weekly award winners on Monday, as Marymount teammates Montell Cooper and CJ Highsmith Jr. take home Player and Defensive Player of the Week respectively.
Player of the Week:
Name: Montell Cooper
School: Marymount
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Glenn Dale, Md.
High School: Our Lady of Good Counsel
Brief Outlook of Week: Cooper had a strong week helping the Saints to a 2-0 start to conference play. The senior dropped 33 total points across both games, averaging 16.5 points per game, while dishing out 10 assists, grabbing 15 boards, and nabbing seven steals. Cooper shot 60 percent from the field on 12-of-20 shooting in the two games.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Name: CJ Highsmith Jr.
School: Marymount
Class: Junior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Philadelphia. Pa.
High School: Girard College
Brief Outlook of Week: CJ Highsmith Jr. was a force in the paint for the Saints across their 2-0 AEC week. Grabbing eight total defensive boards, the first-year swatted away seven total blocks.
Weekly Honor Roll:
Donoven Mack (Jr., Guard, Cabrini): Mack had an 18-point performance at Centenary and a 17-point showing at home against Gwynedd Mercy. In Wednesday's game, Mack was aggressive in getting to the line (7-8 FT) and added two rebounds and two assists to his 18-point night. In Saturday's contest, Mack was pivotal on both ends, collecting six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals to support his 17 point, two assist afternoon. The junior also shot 3 of 5 from three-point range and made each of his six free throws on the day.
Jarell Keel (Fy., Guard, Neumann): Keel averaged 14.0 rebounds and 7.5 points as Neumann went 2-0 to open Atlantic East action. In the 80-78 win over Gwynedd Mercy, Keel had five points and five defensive rebounds. He followed with a double-double in a 69-52 win over Centenary. He scored 10 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, 14 of which were in the defensive zone. He also finished the week with five assists and four blocks.
Amari Little (Jr., Guard, Neumann): Little averaged 18.5 points as Neumann opened conference action going 2-0. In a 80-78 win at Gwynedd Mercy, the junior hit six three-pointers, including the game-winner with six seconds on the clock. He finished with 23 points in the win. Little followed with 14 points in a 69-52 win at Centenary.
JoHaan Vinson (Sr., Guard, Gwynedd Mercy): Vinson led the Griffins to a 1-1 opening week of AEC play with 19.0 points per game, six rebounds per game and two steals versus Neumann (L, 78-80) and Cabrini (W, 96-75). He recorded 18 points, five rebounds, and a block in a home loss to the Knights, before scoring a team-high 20 points, in addition to seven rebounds and two steals in a win over the Cavaliers.
Previous Weekly Award Winners:
Nov. 13, 2023 – Jalen Vaughns, Neumann & Tyler Tillery, Immaculata
Nov. 20, 2023 – Kyle Thompson, Neumann & , Marcus Beckett Marymount
Nov. 27, 2023 – Jalen Vaughns, Neumnan & Tyler Tillery, Immaculata
Dec. 4, 2023 – Jalen Vaughns, Neumann & D.J. Johnson. Gwynedd Mercy
Dec. 11, 2023 – Montell Cooper, Marymount & Bryan Warren, Cabrini
Dec. 18, 2023 – JoHaan Vinson, Gwynedd Mercy & Dylan Crews, Immaculata
Jan. 2, 2024 – Jalen Vaughns, Neumann & Aquil Stewart, Gwynedd Mercy