Khalid Muhammad
Muhammad is Athlete of the Week after averaging 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 0.3 blocks in three games during a 1-2 week for the Gothic Knights. In 83 minutes over three games started, he tallied 51 points, 16 rebounds (eight offensive, eight defensive) with seven steals and one block while shooting 18-of-46 (.391) and 13-of-18 from the line (.722).
Muhammad, a 6-foot-3 Business Management, reached double figures in scoring in all three games—the 12th, 13th and 14th time he has accomplished that in 17 career games. He led NJCU in scoring in each of those contests and has been the club’s top scorer 13 times overall.
On January 14 in a 65-62 road win at John Jay College—NJCU’s third consecutive victory—he shot 6-of-10 from the field and chalked up 16 points (four rebounds, two steals) in 28 minutes.
On January 16 in Mahwah, NJ, Muhammad scored 19 of his career-high 24 points in the first half to stake NJCU to a seven-point halftime margin before #12 Ramapo College rallied for a 60-54 decision. Muhammad scored 19 of NJCU’s 31 first-half points and reached the 20-point threshold for the second time in his career as he notched a game-best 24 on 8-of-22 shooting (2-6 3FG; 6-8 FT) with eight rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes.
Muhammad scored six of NJCU’s first seven points, eight of 12, 13 of 19 and 15 of 23 in the most impressive period of basketball of his career. In the second half, his lone basket of the period with 2:13 to play forced the eighth tie of the night, at 52-52.
In a 74-56 loss at Rowan University on January 19, Muhammad finished with a team-best 11 points with four rebounds and two steals.
For the season, Muhammad is averaging 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 1.4 assists and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting .386 (85-220) from the field and .658 from the foul stripe (48-73). He has chalked up 231 points, 98 rebounds (44 offensive, 54 defensive), 28 steals, 24 assists and nine blocks in 469 minutes. Muhammad leads NJCU in scoring, rebounding, minutes, and field goals and free throws made and attempted.
Among the NJAC leaders, he ranks seventh overall in the league in scoring and is easily tops among rookies (Terik Bridgeman, William Paterson University, 10.3 points per game). He also lists seven in offensive rebounds, 11th in steals and free throw percentage, and 12th in rebounding.
