Waples selected as USBWA Division III men's player of the week
Penn State Berks senior guard Baba Waples was selected as the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Division III National Men's Basketball Player of the Week.
By: Tyler Schueck
ST. LOUIS, MO. - Penn State Berks senior guard Baba Waples was selected as the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Division III National Men's Basketball Player of the Week for his stellar performance this past week.
Waples, who recently earned his first NEAC Player of the Week, is the first player in program history to receive the weekly national honor. Each Tuesday, the USBWA selects a men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the third season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.
Waples earned the recognition after recording two top-10 single game scoring performances, while also becoming the fifth member in school history to reach 1,000 career points. In three games this past week, the senior guard averaged 35.7 points per game with a shooting percentage of 56.7% (38-of-67) from the floor and 58.3% (14-of-24) from 3-point range.Waples also averaged 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2.3 rebounds per game.
In an overtime shootout with the College of Saint Elizabeth, Waples torched the nets to the tune of 53 points, which shattered the a nearly 10-year record of 41 points by Joe Askew. For the game, Waples shot 17-of-26 from the floor and was 11-for-12 from the free throw line. He sank a career-high eight baskets from long range, which is tied for the single game school record. In that same game, Waples opened up the second half with a pair of free throws that gave him the 1,000th career point at Berks. He has since raised his career scoring total to 1,083 points.
Waples followed up his record setting performance 35 points at Penn College on Thursday night. He went 14-of-30 from the field, including three 3-points, and was 4-for-5 at the foul line. Waples also notched five assists and matched a season-high of four steals.
He finished off the week with 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a thrilling win over Bryn Athyn College on Saturday afternoon. He went 7-of-11 from the field and made all three of his attempts from three point range and sank both of the free throws that he attempted.
The Nittany Lions will look to make up ground in the NEAC standings when they host a pair of division crossover games this weekend. Berks will host Morrisville State College on Saturday, January 21 at 3 p.m. and Cazenovia College on Sunday, January 22 at 2 p.m.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season.
