IRVINE, Calif. – This week’s PacWest Men’s Basketball Players of the Week are Hawai’i Pacific’s
Luke Hager, Azusa Pacific’s
Robert Sandoval, BYU-Hawaii’s
Scott Friel and Academy of Art’s
Uchenna Okeneme. The awards are based on games played Dec. 1-7.
Co-Player of the Week – Luke Hager (Hawai’i Pacific)
F, Jr., Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young
Hager continued to make a big impact in his first season with the Sharks, averaging 26.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He shot 66.7 percent from the field (18-27). He scored a career-high 28 points against No. 23 BYU-Hawaii, making nine field goals and 10 free throws. He followed that with 24 points in an overtime win over Hawai’i Hilo, making nine field goals again. He ranks fourth in the PacWest in scoring (20.0 ppg), fifth in rebounding (8.3 rpg) and eighth in field goal percentage (52.4%).
Co-Player of the Week – Robert Sandoval (Azusa Pacific)
G, Sr., Fresno, Calif./Clovis East
Sandoval guided APU to a pair of wins, extending the Cougars’ winning streak to seven games. He averaged 10.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. He had 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds against Cal State San Marcos, the third-ranked team in NAIA. He then had a season-high 11 assists and four steals in the PacWest opener at Fresno Pacific. Sandoval leads the PacWest with 7.0 assists per game.
Defender of the Week – Scott Friel (BYU-Hawaii)
G, Jr., Riverton, Utah/Riverton
Friel helped the No. 23 Seasiders to a pair of wins on the week, keeping them undefeated at 6-0, by averaging 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. He had 10 rebounds and four steals against Hawai’i Pacific. He then had 14 points and seven rebounds against Chaminade. Friel has grabbed double-digit boards in four games this season and ranks fourth in the PacWest with 9.0 rebounds per game.
Freshman of the Week – Uchenna Okeneme (Academy of Art)
G, Fr., Carson, Calif./Narbonne
Okeneme has the best game of his young career in ART U’s PacWest opening win at Notre Dame de Namur. He scored a career-high 21 points, making all seven of his shots from the field, including two three-pointers. He also had four assists and two steals. With the Urban Knights ahead by just two points, Okeneme made four free throws in the final 13 seconds to seal the victory.