WEEK of: DECEMBER 1-7, 2008
Freshman small forward
RASHAWN SMALLS (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) is the NJCU Men's Athlete of the Week for the third time this season and was also named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the third time in four weeks. He has earned the award in all three weeks that NJCU has been active this season.
Smalls, who previously was the NJAC Rookie of the Week on November 17 and 24, continues to lead the NJAC in scoring and helped lead the Gothic Knights to a 1-1 week from December 1-7, by collecting 39 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and four steals. For the week, he averaged 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting .519 from the field (14-27) and 11-of-23 from the line.
In a 77-66 loss at Montclair State University on December 3, Smalls led the Knights with 21 points (8-17 FG), nine rebounds (eight defensive), four steals and three assists in 38 minutes.
In NJCU’s 84-64 victory on December 6 against Rutgers University-Camden, Smalls finished with 18 points to lead NJCU in scoring for the fourth time in five games to begin his career. Despite sitting much of the second half in foul trouble, he made 6-of-10 from the field with nine rebounds and three assists. NJCU led by one at the half but broke the game open with a 12-0 run, began with an offensive rebound and putback by Smalls. A Smalls fast-break jam made it a 47-38 lead.
Through December 9, Smalls leads the NJAC in scoring at 18.5 per game with 111 total points and has scored 1.2 points per game more than any player in the league. Smalls is also ranked second in steals (2.33, 14), third in rebounding (7.5, 45) and defensive rebounding (4.83, 29), seventh in offensive rebounding (2.67, 16), 14th in minutes played (27.83, 167), and tied for 15th in assists (2.00, 12).
