With March rapidly approaching, every game ramps up the pressure and intrigue around the teams poised to make a big run. Eight of the nine Big South programs have played seven games, with UNC Asheville at the top of the conference with a 6-1 record. High Point and Longwood are behind the Bulldogs followed by a surprising Radford team.
Here are the eight best Big South players for the fourth week of Big South play.
Guards
Jordan Marsh, UNC Asheville, Sophomore: UNC Asheville sits at the top of the Big South standings, and the consistency from the guard spots is a big reason for the consistency. Marsh doesn’t just score at an exceedingly high rate, his pure athleticism and speed create mismatches on the perimeter. Marsh scored 28 points in a close road win over Charleston Southern on Jan. 25. With Marsh averaging just under 24 points per game in conference play, he’s a contender for Big South Player of the Year.
D’Maurian Williams, High Point, Graduate Student: Even though High Point isn’t in first place in the Big South right now, the Panthers have to be pleased with the performance of D’Maurian Williams this week. Williams, a transfer from Texas Tech, scored 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting in a win over USC Upstate. He followed that up with 13 points and five boards in a dominant victory at home against Winthrop. Williams is 13th in scoring in the Big South.
Kobe Stewart, Presbyterian, Fifth-Year Senior: Stewart has been at Presbyterian for all five years of his collegiate career, and none have been as impactful and impressive as this one. While Presbyterian as a team hasn’t started great, Stewart certainly has performed at a noteworthy level. He tallied 28 points and five rebounds on 73% shooting in a losing effort to Radford, and the game prior, he had 16 against Charleston Southern in a 71-61 victory. Stewart earned Big South Player of the Week for his efforts.
Forwards
Michael Christmas, Longwood, Graduate Student: Christmas is the team leader for the Lancers. His dynamic with the team has been described as, “If he plays well, so do the Lancers” throughout his career. Longwood grabbed wins in both of their two games this past week, and Christmas had 17 points in both of them. Against the rival Highlanders, Christmas cashed in five 3-pointers. He sank three more of them against USC Upstate. Christmas has already made 11 more triples this season than he did at the end of the previous one.
Toyaz Solomon, UNC Asheville, Senior: Solomon is another piece to the great puzzle that has been the UNC Asheville Bulldogs. Solomon is averaging just over 16 points per game so far, and is a huge force in the paint that Big South teams consistently have trouble with. He scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards against rival Gardner-Webb. In their gritty road win against Charleston Southern, Solomon accounted for 13 points.
Reserves
Jarvis Moss, Radford, Senior: Moss transferred in over the summer from Davidson and hit the ground running immediately in non-conference play. This week’s conference play was one of his best as the 6-foot-4 guard scored 24 points on 8 of 13 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. Moss and Radford lost the game before Longwood, where he tallied 13 points. Radford was the surprise team at the conference, and Moss played a key role in why the Highlanders sat fourth in the Big South.
Karmani Gregory, USC Upstate, Sophomore: Upstate had a very tough slate this week, dropping its games against High Point and Longwood. Gregory was easily Upstate’s bright spot, putting up 18 points and six assists against the Panthers. In Upstate’s blowout loss to Longwood, Gregory scored 11 points with eight coming in the first half before Upstate lost all momentum.
Taje’ Kelly, Charleston Southern, Senior: Kelly is a bruising forward who currently sits second in the Big South in scoring in conference games. Charleston Southern has been hit hard by injuries this season, with most of its recent games playing only seven players. Kelly plays almost the entire game for the Buccaneers and is almost guaranteed to put up 15 or more points a game. Kelly accounted for 19 points, six rebounds against Presbyterian and 15 points against UNC Asheville.
