HADDONFIELD, N.J. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Men’s Basketball weekly award winners on Monday, with Neumann’s DJ Earl being named Player of the Week and Gwynedd Mercy’s D.J. Johnson being named Defensive Player of the Week.
Player of the Week: DJ Earl
School: Neumann
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Middletown, Del.
High School: Appoquninmink
Brief Outlook of Week: Earl averaged 19.5 points in a 2-0 week as Neumann opened conference action. The senior scored 25 points, including five three-point baskets, with six rebounds and two assists, in a 94-78 win over Immaculata. In a 78-73 win at Saint Elizabeth, Earl scored 14 points and had three assists coupled with two rebounds.
Defensive Player of the Week: D.J. Johnson
School: Gwynedd Mercy
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Norristown, Pa.
High School: Norristown
Brief Outlook of Week: Johnson led the Griffins to a 2-0 opening week in conference play. In the first league road contest at Pratt, Johnson paved the way with 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Then, at Immaculata, he contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and seven steals en route to the victory. On the week, he averaged 17.5 points, seven rebounds (of his 14 total, 11 were defensive), and four assists, while totaling eight steals and two blocks.
Weekly Honor Roll:
Dylan Crews, Immaculata: Crews delivered a pair of strong performances for Immaculata, totaling 29 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots, and four steals over two games, while shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. On Wednesday, against Neumann, Crews scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and recorded four steals, He followed that effort on Saturday with a game-high 22 points, three rebounds, and two blocked shots against Gwynedd Mercy, leading a fourth-quarter comeback attempt that came up just short.
Anthoney McClary, Marymount: The sophomore guard averaged 17.0 points per game in Marymount's 2-0 week against AEC opponents. Adding 6.5 rebounds per game and five total steals, McClary put up a double-double in Wednesday's win over Saint Elizabeth with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He then has 16 points alongside two assists, two steals and two rebounds against Centenary.
Collin Himmelberg, Marywood: Himmelberg led the Pacers with 19 points per game and a 60% field goal percentage to open AEC play. He scored a team-high 24 points, on 8-of-12 shooting, in an 86-80 victory over Pratt. Himmelberg opened the week with a 14-point effort in a loss to Centenary. On the week, he made 7 of 8 shots from beyond the arc for a .875 3-point percentage.
Donte Dupriest, Neumann: Dupriest averaged 30.0 points and 15.5 rebounds as Neumann opened Atlantic East action 2-0. In a 94-78 win over Immaculata, the senior scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while dishing out one assist. Dupriest followed with 33 points, 19 rebounds and two assists in a 78-73 win at Saint Elizabethtown.
Kurt Thomas, Pratt: Thomas led Pratt offensively in two hard-fought conference matchups this week, averaging 20.0 points on a 52% shooting from the field. He started the week posting 16 points and a team-high 8 rebounds, with two steals and two blocks, against Gwynedd Mercy before following it up with a dominant 24-point performance against Marywood, shooting 8-for-15 from the floor, in his first collegiate start.
2025-26 AEC Men’s Basketball Weekly Award Winners:
AEC Player of the Week:
Nov. 10: Michel Loftin, Marywood
Nov. 17: Mandon Seapoe, Immaculata
Nov. 24: Jalen Snead, Gwynedd Mercy
Dec. 1: Trey Phillips, Pratt
Dec. 8: DJ Earl, Neumann
Dec. 15: Joe Macciocco, Marywood
Dec. 22: Joseph Mazzola, Saint Elizabeth
Jan. 5: Trey Phillips, Pratt
Jan. 12: DJ Earl, Neumann
AEC Defensive Player of the Week:
Nov. 10: D.J. Johnson, Gwynedd Mercy
Nov. 17: Donte Dupriest, Neumann
Nov. 24: Donte Dupriest, Neumann
Dec. 1: Donte Dupriest, Neumann
Dec. 8: Donte Dupriest, Neumann
Dec. 15: Cameron Hatcher, Pratt
Dec. 22: Tye-Rell Monroe, Saint Elizabeth
Jan. 5: CJ Highsmith Jr., Marymount
Jan 12: D.J. Johnson, Gwynedd Mercy