2017-18 Men's Basketball Players of the Week

  • Clayton Murtha, Washington and Lee, Sr., Forward
    February 19, 2018
    Murtha, a senior from Dallas, Texas, put together a strong week against the two of the top four teams in the conference to help Washington and Lee secure the third seed and bye thru the first round of the ODAC tournament. This marks the highest finish for the Generals since the 1988-89 season. Murtha shot .643 from the field for the week on the way to averaging 26.0 points and 9.5 rebounds. He opened with 25 points on 9-of-12 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the stripe in a 92-87 victory at Emory & Henry. He added nine rebonds and a pair of assists. Murtha registered his 11th double-double of the season in an 84-76 triumph over Randolph-Macon in the regular season finale. He put up 27 points on 9-of-16 from the field and added 10 rebounds and a steal. He was 9-of-15 from the foul line. With 52 points over the two contests, Murtha moved into third on W&L's all-time scoring list with 1,821 points. Murtha currently leads the ODAC in scoring (19.2), overall points (481), free throws made (128) and offensive rebounds (96). He is second in field goals made (173) and third in rebounding (9.0).
  • Connor Schroeder, Lynchburg, Jr., Forward
    February 12, 2018
    Schroeder, a junior from Blacksburg, Va., helped the Hornets to a 1-1 week in ODAC play by averaging 24.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 63.3-percent from the field and canning 10 three-pointers over the two contests. Schroeder opened with 17 points, three boards, an assist, and a blocked shot in a 100-74 setback to Roanoke. He was 7-of-9 from the field and buried all three of his long-distance efforts. The three-point ball was again on display in a 98-95 overtime victory at Shenandoah. He nailed 7-of-12 shots from downtown on the way to 31 points. He was 12-of-21 overall from the field. He added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, and chipped in three assists, three steals, and a blocked shot. For the season, Schroeder is averaging 15.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest. He is second in the ODAC in three-pointers made (58-of-138) and sixth in three-pointer percentage (.420).
  • John Shelor, Emory & Henry, Sr., Guard
    January 29, 2018
    Shelor, a senior from Giles, Va., put together a pair of strong outings in helping the nationally 21st-ranked Wasps to a pair of conference victories. Emory & Henry, which debuted in the D3hoops.com poll for the first time in program history last week, is now 18-1 overall and 10-0 in the ODAC, marking the first time E&H has been 10-0 in league play since 1992-93. The Wasps have also won eight straight games. Shelor opened his week with 21 points on 9-of-17 from the field in an 85-74 road win at Randolph. He added four rebounds, four assists, and a steal while also hitting both of his foul shots. Shelor's three-point prowess was on display in a 90-73 victory over Bridgewater as he canned 6-of-9 shots from deep on the way to 24 points. He was 8-of-15 overall from the field again was 2-for-2 from the line, adding in three rebounds, two assists, and two steals to his line. For the season, Shelor is ninth in the ODAC in scoring at 15.4 points per game. He is third in minutes played (603) and minutes played per game (31.7), fifth in free throw percentage (.844; 38-of-45), sixth in field goals made (107), and eighth in three-pointers made (41) and three-point shooting (.427; 41-of-96).
  • Chase Branscomb, Emory & Henry, Sr., Forward
    January 22, 2018
    Branscomb, a senior from Bristol, Tenn., shot nearly 65-percent from the field in leading Emory & Henry to a pair of conference victories, including a 75-65 decision over Randolph-Macon to take over sole possession of first place in the ODAC standings at 8-0 in league play. Branscomb opened his week with a career-high 34 points on 14-of-22 shotting from the field and 5-of-6 from the line in a 102-81 victory over Lynchburg. He added 11 rebounds with seven coming via the offensive glass for his sixth double-double of the season. The 34 points also marked his first 30-plus point game of his collegiate career. Branscomb then dropped in 20 points with nine rebounds against R-MC. He was 8-of-12 form the field and notched a steal. For the season, Branscomb is sixth in the ODAC in scoring (16.2) and fifth in rebounding (8.3). He is fourth in overall points scored (275) and field goals made (100) and fifth in free throws made (61).
  • Josh Freund, Roanoke, Jr., Forward
    January 15, 2018
    Freund, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., shot nearly 70-percent from the field in leading Roanoke to a 1-1 showing against a pair of ODAC foes. Freund set career highs with 33 points and 17 rebounds in a 75-73 tight loss at league-leading Emory & Henry. He was 15-of-23 (.652) from the field and made each of three free throw attempts. He added an assist and a steal in 36 minutes of work. Freund then registered his second career 30-point game with an 83-77 home victory over Virginia Wesleyan. He was 10-of-14 (.714) from the field and 10-of-10 from the stripe on the way to 30 points. He chipped in nine rebounds and a blocked shot in another 36 minutes of floor time. For the season, Freund is second in the ODAC in both scoring (17.9) and rebounding (9.3). He is #1 in field goals made (110) and second in field goal percentage (.625). He is tied for fourth in the ODAC with five double-doubles.
  • Daniel Spencer, Emory & Henry, So., Guard
    January 08, 2018
    Spencer, a sophomore from Concord, N.C., put together a pair of 20-point efforts in helping Emory & Henry to two more conference victories. The wins continue the Wasps best start since 1992-93 when they went 10-0 to begin the season. E&H is now 12-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play, tied with Randolph-Macon and Washington and Lee. Spencer opened with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 2-of-4 from deep in a 95-77 victory at Guilford. He was also 5-of-6 from the line and added eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Spencer was 8-for-11 from the field and buried both of his three-pointers on the way to 22 points in an 89-83 home win over Virginia Wesleyan. He chipped in four rebounds and three steals to the effort. For the season, Spencer is averaging 13.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He leads the ODAC in steals (28) and is fourth in field goal percentage (.579; 73-of-126).
  • Colin Molden, Emory & Henry, So., Guard
    January 02, 2018
    Molden, a sophomore from Apex, N.C., put together a strong week in helping Emory & Henry to a 3-1 showing over the holiday season. Molden was named the MVP of the Don Lane Classic and earned a spot on the E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic all-tournament team as the Wasps won the first three of their four games to move to 10-0 for the first time since 1992-93. Molden averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 steals and shot 49.2 percent from the field and 84.6 percent from the stripe. He opened the Don Lane Classic with 17 points on 5-of-8 from the field including 3-of-4 from deep with two steals in an 82-78 win against Transylvania. He then increased his output to 20 points with five assists in a 74-69 victory over North Park. At the Mose Hole/Kiwanis Classic, Molden poured in 22 points with six assists, four rebounds, and five steals in an 85-82 overtime win over Alma College. He had seven points and two assists in the extra frame. He finished his two-week showing with 19 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals in a 77-68 setback to host Wooster. For the season, Molden is fourth in the ODAC in scoring (16.6) and total points (183). He is second in assists (60) and steals (24) and third in field goals made (70).
  • A.J. Horde, Bridgewater, Sr., Guard
    December 18, 2017
    Horde, a senior from Oak Park, Mich., picks up his second straight weekly award after leading Bridgewater to a pair of wins and earning MVP honors at the Luck Stone Classic hosted by Hampden-Sydney. Horde was held to just three points in a 68-55 win over Johnson & Wales (R.I.) in the opener, but tied for game-high honors with nine rebounds and had a game-best nine assists to go with three steals. Horde exploded for an ODAC season-high 39 points in a 92-71 triumph over Buffalo State. He was 11-of-16 from the field including 7-of-10 from downtown, the latter of which matches the most three-pointers in a game in the conference this season. He added a 10-for-12 showing from the foul line and chipped in five assists, three rebounds, and three steals. For the season, Horde leads the ODAC in scoring (19.2), points scored (192), three-pointers made (31), and steals (21). He is second in field goals made (32), free throws made (45), and minutes played (32.2), and sixth in assists (39).
  • A.J. Horde, Bridgewater, Sr., Guard
    December 11, 2017
    Horde, a senior from Oak Park, Mich., put together a strong week in leading Bridgewater to wins in both contests at the Don Glick Classic. Horde opened with 26 points and six rebounds with three assists and four steals in an 88-72 win over Keystone. He was 8-of-16 from the field and canned five three-pointers in 10 attempts from beyond the arc. In an 82-73 triumph over Apprentice School, Horde registered 18 points with two boards and five assists. He buried two more from deep, keeping him at 50-percent from downtown for the week. He also converted 8-of-11 from the stripe. For the season, Horde is second in the ODAC in scoring (18.8) and three-pointers made (24). He leads the league in minutes played (33.0), is third in steals (15) and fourth in free throws made (34).
  • Lamont Steward, Virginia Wesleyan, So., Guard/Forward
    December 04, 2017
    Steward, a sophomore from Norfolk, Va., helped the Marlins to four victories last week to improve to 7-0 on the season. Those included two wins to claim the Roger Taylor Invitational title hosted by N.C. Wesleyan. Steward, who earned a spot on the all-tournament team, averaged 17.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting .563 from the field (27-of-48) and .750 from the line (12-of-16) for the week. He opened with 15 points and eight boards to go with a pair of blocked shots in a 114-86 win over Apprentice School. He followed with 14 points on 6-of-9 from the field in a 69-61 win over Lynchburg, adding nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two more rejections. Steward's scoring ticked upward in the Invitational with 18 points, 10 boards, and two blocked shots in a 101-83 win over Greensboro and 24 points with nine boards in an 86-73 triumph over N.C. Wesleyan. The double-double versus The Pride marked his second of the year. For the season, Steward is averaging 17.3 points with an ODAC second-best 121 total points scored. He leads the league defensive rebounds (45) and total boards (61), and is second in free throws made (32).
  • Devin Kearns, Washington and Lee, Jr., Guard
    November 27, 2017
    Kearns, a junior from Cibolo, Texas, helped the Generals to a pair of wins to even their record at 2-2 on the season. Kearns opened his week with 19 points and 10 assists for his first double-double of the season in a 96-57 triumph over Southern Virginia. He was 8-of-17 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line. He also notched four steals and two rebounds. Kearns was nearly as good in Washington and Lee's ODAC-opening victory over Hampden-Sydney, 92-67. He registered 16 points that included 6-of-6 from the stripe. He added eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals to his stat line. Kearns currently leads the ODAC in assists (25), assists per game (6.3), and steals per game (2.3). He is averaging 16.5 points per contest, which is just outside the ODAC's top-10.
  • Carson Long, Guilford, Jr., Forward
    November 20, 2017
    Long, a junior from Pilot Mountain, N.C., started off the season by nearly averaging a double-double in a 2-1 week for the 18th-ranked Quakers. Long opened with 18 points and 12 rebounds with a steal in a 98-88 win at Greensboro. He then went for 10 points, six boards, two steals, and two blocks in a narrow 68-67 setback to Concordia (Texas) to open the Daly Seven Tip-Off Classic. Long exploded in the final game with a career-high 36 points on 13-of-25 from the field and 6-of-6 from the stripe. He added 11 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots on the way to earning a spot on the all-tournament team.