LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for January 15, 2024. This includes Athletes of the Week for both the Skye and Volt Divisions in Men’s and Women’s Basketball.
This week’s selections included contests from Monday, January 8 through Sunday, January 14. A total of 8 student-athletes were recognized for their performances.
Men’s Basketball
Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Ayto Alberto / Sr / Cairn University / Willemstad, Curacao / Victory Rock Prep (FL) / Clarks Summit University
Alberto was the leader of the Highlander offense this week averaging a double-double of 32.0 Points per Game and 10.50 Rebounds per Game. On Thursday, Alberto finished with a 31-point performance with six three-pointers and a highlight reel dunk in the second half against division rival, Rosemont. He followed-up with 33 points on Saturday when Cairn hosted Saint Elizabeth, completing the double-double, grabbing 13 rebounds while shooting 50% from both the field (10-20) and three-point territory (3-6) to propel the Highlanders onto a three-game winning streak. Aytor is currently 3rd in the United East, scoring 22.4 Points per Game. This is the second Player of the Week award in the 2023-24 season for Alberto, who previously won for the week of December 18, 2023.
Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Keith Bullock Jr. / Jr / Bryn Athyn College / Washington D.C. / Cardozo / CCBC Catonsville
Bullock Jr was a ball hawk defensively registering 11 steals and 11 rebounds from the point guard spot over Bryn Athyn’s 3 games this week. Inserted into the starting lineup on Saturday against Valley Forge, Bullock played 32 minutes and had 5 steals while on Wednesday against Clarks Summit, he scored 12 points, handed out 7 assists, grabbed 5 boards, and swiped 4 steals. This is the first Player of the Week award for Bullock.
Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Grant Sareyka / Sr / Lancaster Bible College / Swedesboro, N.J. / The Christian Academy
Sareyka continues his offensive prowess with two more 20+ point games and two conference wins over Penn College and Penn State Berks. The senior averaged 25 Points per Game, 2.5 Rebounds per Game, 3 Assists per Game, and 3 Steals pre Game all while going 54-percent from the field, 38-percent from 3pt, and 86-percent (13-15) from the free throw line. Sareyka had his fourth game with 30 or more points versus Berks and sits fourth in the conference in Points per Game at 20.9. This is the third Player of the Week award for Sareyka who previously won for the week of January 2, 2024 and November 13, 2023.
Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Hollique Johnson / Sr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Glen Burnie, Md. / Howard CC / Old Mill Senior HS
Hollique Johnson helped the Seahawks to a 2-0 week, keeping St. Mary's College undefeated in conference play. Johnson shot 50-percent (10-20) from the field while averaging 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks. In the 84-68 road win over Penn State Berks, Johnson chipped in six points, six boards (all defensive), two assists, and one steal. He followed that up with 14 points, a game-best nine boards (six defensive), a career- and game-high four blocks, and three assists. Johnson is currently 4th in the United East in Total Rebounds (147) and 5th in Rebounds per Game (8.6). This is the second United East Player of the Week honor for Johnson, who previously won for the week of November 20, 2023.
Women’s Basketball
Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Amani Watts / FY / Notre Dame of Maryland University / Severn, Md. / Old Mill HS
Watts had a career week in wins over Rosemont College and Keystone College. In the win over the Ravens, Watts recorded another double-double, finishing the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds (3 offensive). She then set a new career-high for points in the win over Keystone, racking up 28 points including going 14-19 at the free throw line. She recorded her 11th double-double of the season (Tied for the 4th in NCAA Division III). For the season, Watts is averaging 19.3 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game. This is the fifth Player of the Week honor for Watts this season who previously won for the weeks of January 8, 2024, January 2, 2024, December 11, 2023 and December 4, 2023.
Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Caylie Long / FY / Cedar Crest College / Powder Springs, Ga. / Hillgrove HS
Long averaged 16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, three assists, 4.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game in a 3-0 week for Cedar Crest as the Falcons ran its win streak to five games. She began the week with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and four steals in a 58-50 win over Penn State Berks. Long continued her strong week with a performance of 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals in a 65-46 triumph Cairn. She then closed the week with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in an 83-50 win over Rosemont. The first year also added three assists, two blocks, and seven steals in the victory. This is the first Player of the Week honor for Long.
Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Cassidy Perry / Sr / Gallaudet University / Frederick, Md. / Maryland School for the Deaf
Gallaudet went 2-0 on the week as Perry tallied 47 points, 38 rebounds, five steals, three assists and two blocks, averaging 23.5 points per game, 19.0 rebounds per game, and shooting 15-18 from the free throw line. Perry had a 25/25 game at Penn St.-Abington as she scored 25 and grabbed a career-high 25 rebounds to go with two steals and two assists in a 68-56 road win. This past Saturday, Perry added 22 points and 13 boards to go with two blocks and three assists in a 87-82 win over the Seahawks in a home win. This is the 15th Player of the Week honor on the basketball court for Perry who was a First Team All-Conference honoree in 2021-22 and 2022-23, in addition to Rookie of the Year and Second Team honors in 2019-20.
Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Mahala Ruffner / FY / Penn State Berks / Bethel, Pa. / Tulpehocken HS
Ruffner had a huge week for the Nittany Lions as the first-year center averaged 11.7 points, 16.3 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. Ruffner had a career-high in rebounds (20) and blocked shots (4) against Cedar Crest College while contributing nine points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks against St. Mary's College. Ruffner finished off the week with the second double-double of the season after recording a season-high 22 points to go along with 15 boards and three blocks against Lancaster Bible College. Ruffner currently sits 5th in the United East averaging 10.9 Rebounds per Game, 4th with 163 Total Rebounds and 5th in Blocked Shots (18 Total; 1.2 per Game). This is the first Player of the Week honor for Ruffner.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram - gounitedeast | Twitter - @GoUnitedEast
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.