Along with the weekly individual honors the MEAC announces each week, other top performers are deserving recognition as well, and the MSR during the bi-weekly conference call asked coaches to share their flowers on the following players.
WBB
Coppin State – Angel Jones had a team-high 19 points and a career high eight rebounds, and Laila Lawrence added 13 points and five steals along with five boards in a win over North Carolina Central.
“Laila and Angel have been playing lights out,” said CSU Coach Jermaine Woods.
Delaware State – Kiarra McElrath averaged 23 points and three steals in two games for the Hornets. McKenzie Stewart added 19 rebounds, two blocks and three steals in the same span.
Coach Jazmone Turner said of the two players, “They are the two young players I am excited to see grow at our institution in next few years.” On Stewart, “McKenzie is a workhorse and she’s our defensive captain and our defensive leader.” On McElrath, “Kiarra is just a phenomenal person, and as an athlete, she adds a scoring power. In the last few games, her scoring ability, and her ability to set the tone for us but also to facilitate and get other people involved.”
Howard – Destiny Howell led the Bison to its first conference win of the season with 22 points, four steals and five rebounds; Saniyah King contributed 10 points and nine assists, and Zennia Thomas posted a double-double (12 pts, 11 rebs).
On Thomas, “Zennia has been amazing. She has been a key piece in the structure of our team this year to be able to get the ball inside and play outside,” observed Howard’s Daniel Marks, a member of the coaching staff.
Norfolk State – Diamond Johnson scored 21 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists, and shot .642 from the field in a recent win.
“She’s a super special talent and a special person as well,” said NSU Coach Larry Vickers. “She truly loves basketball and does everything the right way.”
MBB
Coppin State – Julius Ellerbe III’s 16 points, eight rebounds and an assist led CSU to a win over North Carolina Central, and Johnathan Dunn added eight points, seven boards, two steals, a block, and an assist.
“Both bring a different skill set,” admitted Coach Larry Stewart on Ellerbe and Dunn, both transfers. “They both can go downhill. We are going to be leaning on those two guys as we get into the heat of the MEAC conference.”
North Carolina Central – Floyd Rideau averaged 16 points, three rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals in a 1-1 week for the Eagles. Dionte Johnson had 16 assists in their win over NAIA St. Andrew’s, and is averaging 10.5 assists, 4.5 steals, four rebounds and almost five points during that week.
“They’re learning and still trying to grasp what we are trying to accomplished,” noted Coach LeVelle Moton. “I think they are starting to get their feet wet.”
South Carolina State – Drayton Jones led the Bulldogs with 20 points with six rebounds, a block, an assist, and a steal in a win over Morgan State, and Omar Croskey put up 17 points, grabbed six rebounds, two assists and three steals.
“Both of them have put in a ton of work,” concluded Coach Erik Martin. “Omar probably our toughest player on the team.”