The standout performer in men’s college basketball for Week 17 has been recognized as the national player of the week:
Miles Kelly from Auburn.
Standing tall at 6 feet 6 inches, the senior guard displayed remarkable scoring from beyond the arc in two impressive victories for the top-ranked Tigers. Last week, Kelly set the court ablaze by hitting nine three-pointers and tallying 30 points in a commanding 94-78 win against the 19th-ranked Kentucky. He continued his sharpshooting prowess by knocking down three more threes and contributing 13 points in a resounding triumph over Mississippi. Across these matches, Kelly shot an impressive 12 out of 19 from beyond the arc and made 14 out of 24 overall from the field.
Currently, Kelly ranks as Auburn’s third top scorer, averaging 11.5 points per game, and is sinking threes at an impressive 41%. Meanwhile, the Tigers continue to hold firm at the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25, maintaining this position for eight consecutive weeks.
In the runner-up slot is Andrew Nembhard from Gonzaga. The 6-foot senior has distinguished himself by logging consecutive games with 15 assists against Division I adversaries, marking the first instance this has happened since 2011. He achieved 15 assists again in a victory over Santa Clara, setting a Division I record of being the first player in 22 years to secure two 15-assist performances against the same opponent within a single season. He followed these feats with 16 assists in a win against San Francisco.
Players who received honorable mention include Chucky Hepburn from Louisville, Sam Brown from Penn, and Abdi Bashir Jr. from Monmouth.
Additionally, Eric Dixon from Villanova is a player to keep an eye on. As the top scorer nationwide, Dixon is vigorously attempting to propel the Wildcats into the NCAA Tournament conversation. The 6-8 senior recorded 32 points—consisting of an impressive run of 18 consecutive points—and acquired 10 rebounds in a 59-54 victory at Seton Hall. Shortly thereafter, he netted 34 points in a triumph over Butler. Dixon leads national scoring with an average of 23.6 points per game as the regular season draws to a close, which Villanova will cap off with a game against Georgetown on Tuesday.
