Wednesday, December 20, 2023
by Evan O'Kelly, Assistant Commissioner For Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – The final Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards of 2023 were announced on Wednesday, after the majority of the conference’s basketball teams wrapped up their non-conference schedules.

Each piloting their teams to success throughout a three-game week, Alaska Anchorage’s Jaron Williams and Western Washington’s Brooke Walling were named Men’s Basketball Player of the Week and Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, respectively.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week – Brooke Walling, Western Washington

Third-career player of the week, second this season.

Walling had a commanding week on the hardwood, leading all GNAC players in rebounds per game (13.0) and blocks per game (3.33) while contributing 14.0 points to help the Vikings finish the calendar year going 2-1. Walling kicked off her week with a season-high 16 rebounds while adding 11 points, three assists and a pair of blocks against Dominican. Walling then posted her fifth 20-point game of the season finishing with 21 against Cal State East Bay and narrowly missing a double-double with nine rebounds. The junior finished the week with a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double while adding a season-high five assists against Cal State San Bernardino.

Also Nominated: Senya Rabouin, UAA; Asher Cai, CWU; Kortney Nelson, MSUB; Schuyler Berry, SPU; Sophia Wisotzki, SFU; Bella Pedrojetti, WOU.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week – Jaron Williams, Alaska Anchorage

First-career player of the week

Williams put together a sturdy all-around performance to help the Seawolves go 2-1 last week in Hawaii. His signature performance came in the finale – a 77-72 win over host Hawaii Pacific – pouring in a career-high 29 points on 11-for-13 shooting while adding five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Overall Williams averaged 15.7 points and 5.0 rebounds to help the Seawolves improve to 10-3 on the season.

Also Nominated: Demarcus Hall-Scriven, UAF; Anjaylo Lloyd, CWU; Jalen Tot, MSUB; Gabriel Murphy, NNU; Josh Camper, SMU; Shaw Anderson, SPU; Elliot Dimaculangan, SFU; Cameron Benzel, WOU; Kai Johnson, WWU.