NEW YORK - Bryce Hopkins from St. John's and Braylon Mullins from UConn are this week's BIG EAST Weekly award honorees. Hopkins averaged a double-double, posting 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week. Mullins averaged 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while connecting on 50% from the perimeter last week for the Huskies.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Bryce Hopkins, St. John's, G/F, Gr.
Hopkins posted a double-double, averaging 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds to go with 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in a 2-0 week for the Red Storm. The 6-7 guard/forward connected on 58.3% (14-24) of his shots from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Hopkins had 23 points and 10 boards at Marquette on Feb. 18. Last time out at home against Creighton, the grad student posted 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 30 minutes of action. It marked the first time since the 2022-23 season that Hopkins registered a double-double in consecutive games.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Braylon Mullins, UConn, G, Fr.
Mullins posted 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week for the Huskies, connecting on 50.0% from beyond the arc (8-16). On Feb. 18 against Creighton, the 6-6 guard poured in a season-high 25 points to go with six rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot. Mullins connected on 6-of-11 shots from the perimeter against the Bluejays. Last time out in a win at Villanova, he tallied an efficient 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting to go with and three rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes.
BIG EAST Honor Roll
Michael Ajayi, Butler, F, Gr.
Ajayi averaged 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks, connecting on 56.3% (18-32) shots from the floor in a 2-0 week for Butler. The 6-7 forward posted 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists at Georgetown on Feb. 18 before registering 24 points, nine boards, and two assists against Xavier on Feb. 21.
NJ Benson, DePaul, F, Sr.
Benson averaged 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals while connecting on 83.3% (15-18) of his shots from the floor in a 1-1 week for the Blue Demons. He made 8-of-9 shots to finish with 21 points and eight boards in a win at Seton Hall. Last time out against Providence, he registered a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards, making 7-of-9 shots from the floor.
Nigel James Jr., Marquette, G, Fr.
In his lone game of the week, James finished with 25 points, four rebounds, three assists, a blocked shot, and a steal in 35 minutes at home against St. John's on Feb. 18. He connected on 11-of-21 shots from the floor in the loss. James ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring in conference play, at 19.6 points per game.
Jaylin Sellers, Providence, G, Gr.
Sellers scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds in Providence's lone game of the week - a win at DePaul on Feb. 21. The 6-5 guard made 9-of-13 shots from the floor, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also tallied a blocked shot in 34 minutes of play. Sellers is third in the league in conference scoring, at 18.6 points per outing.
Tre Carroll, Xavier, F, Gr.
Carroll averaged 26.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks, while connecting on nearly 64% of his shots for Xavier this past week. The 6-8 forward tallied 28 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks at home against Villanova. Last time out at Butler, he finished with 24 points, seven boards, and four assists. He leads the BIG EAST in conference scoring (19.8 ppg).