SMU’s Tolbert Named AAC Player of the Week

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (SMU/AAC) – SMU’s Jordan Tolbert was named the American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the second straight week on Monday. Tolbert averaged 19.0 points and 21.0 rebounds as the Mustangs won both games this week. Freshman Shake Milton was also named to the AAC Honor Roll.

Tolbert, a senior from Fort Worth, had 18 points and 23 rebounds in an 86-42 win over Nicholls on Dec. 16 (recap) and 20 points and 19 rebounds in a 105-72 win over Hampton on Dec. 17 (recap). With the wins, 18th-ranked SMU improved to 9-0, its best start since going 10-0 to open the 1997-98 season.

Milton, a freshman from Owasso, Oklahoma, was named to the AAC Honor Roll after 20 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in an 86-42 win over Nicholls on Dec. 16 and 14 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds in a 105-72 win over Hampton on Dec. 17.

Tolbert is one of several award winners on the SMU roster. Nic Moore was tabbed to repeat as AAC Player of the Year, while he and Markus Kennedy were unanimously selected to the preseason All-AAC first team. Moore was also named to the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 for the second straight year and to the Naismith Award Watch List for the first time. Kennedy is on the Karl Malone Award Watch List. Semi Ojeleye is a nominee for the Allstate NABC Good Works Team. Tolbert was selected as AAC Player of the Week on Dec. 14, Shake Milton was selected the AAC Rookie of the Week on Nov. 16 and Nic Moore was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 7.