April Thomas

Written by Edythe Bradley

An ASU Lady Ram receives SIAC honors for outstanding performances has been selected for basketball player of the week honors by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) after her outstanding performances in three games last week. Freshman guard April Thomas was named the SIAC’s Newcomer of the Week after helping to lead the Lady Rams to victories over Lane College, Kentucky State University and Fort Valley State University.

A Bainbridge, Ga. native, Thomas scored 41 points, including 16 points against Fort Valley State, to average 13.7 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds in the three games and averaged 2.7 steals and 1.3 assists. Thomas leads all SIAC freshmen with 26 three-point field goals made, which ranks second in the SIAC, as well as scoring at 14.8 points per game, ranking fourth among conference leaders in that category.

Stillman College senior forward Jamila McKinnis was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 13 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in two games this past week to earn her second player-of-the-week honor this season.

Tuskegee University senior forward Joshua Eichelberger was named Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, and Kentucky State University sophomore forward Brandon Darrett was named Men’s Basketball Newcomer of the Week.

Eichelberger averaged 15 points, 11.5 rebounds, two steals and a block along with an assist while helping lead the Golden Tigers to a 2-0 record. Darrett, who earned his second weekly honor this season, averaged 10.3 points, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks on defense while helping the Thorobreds to a 3-0 record for the week.

The ASU basketball teams will play at Benedict College, Paine College, Lane College and Kentucky State before returning home on Jan. 24 to face LeMoyne-Owen College.