Every Big South program has played everyone else once now, and with the second phase of conference play beginning, eight players stood out as February began. UNC Asheville remains top of the conference, followed by High Point. After the Panthers, there’s a log jam of teams in third place that include Longwood, Winthrop and Radford.
Guards
Darryl Simmons II, Gardner-Webb, Sophomore
Saying Simmons had a good week would be an understatement. The sophomore guard scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in a win over Longwood. However, the second game of the week earned him the honor of Big South Player of the Week. Simmons scored 40 points on 12-of-23 shooting and shot 8 of 12 from the 3 in a narrow loss to Winthrop. In addition, he was named to the Oscar Robertson trophy watchlist after his stellar performances.
Kory Mincy, Presbyterian, Sophomore
Presbyterian lost both of its games this week, but the performances of Mincy, a sophomore guard, cannot go unnoticed. He scored 20 points against Winthrop and shot a perfect 6 of 6 from the foul line. Mincy then followed it up with 24 points with five made triples against High Point.
Brandon Maclin, Radford, Junior
Radford split their two games this past week and Maclin was vital for Radford in both contests. The junior guard from Jackson, Tennessee, had 19 points and four rebounds in the Highlanders’ loss to UNC Asheville. In the game that Radford won, a 79-69 triumph over USC Upstate, Maclin accounted for 17 points with five made 3-pointers.
Forwards
Kelton Talford, Winthrop, Senior
For Winthrop to win shootouts like the 96-93 barnburner against Gardner-Webb, Talford needs to be at the forefront on both sides of the ball for the Eagles. Talford scored 25 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Presbyterian. In the riveting encounter against the Runnin’ Bulldogs, Talford put up 20 points and grabbed nine boards to help Winthrop nullify the 40 points given up to Simmons from Gardner-Webb.
Taje’ Kelly, Charleston Southern, Senior
Kelly was once again instrumental to Charleston Southern winning basketball games. The Buccaneers won both of their contests this past week against USC Upstate and Longwood, with Kelly putting up video game numbers against the Spartans. Kelly scored 25 points and had 17 rebounds in their road win against Upstate. He followed it up with 20 more points against the Lancers in an 89-85 win.
Reserves
Kyrell Luc, Longwood, Senior
It was not a good week for Longwood. The Lancers dropped two very close games on the road following their 5-2 start. Luc, a speedy point guard from the Boston area, scored 25 points in the loss to Gardner-Webb and contributed 17 more, along with five rebounds and five assists, in the loss to Charleston Southern. Luc and the Lancers now head back home for a must-win rivalry game against Radford on Saturday.
Daylen Berry, Charleston Southern, Junior
Charleston Southern has been struck by the injury bug this season. This has caused the Buccaneers to have a smaller rotation, with key players like Kelly and Berry playing almost the full game. Berry scored 17 points against USC Upstate on 5-of-10 shooting. His better performance was the next game against Longwood, where he put up 28 points on 9 of 13 shooting and six made triples. Up to this point, he’s been an unsung hero for the Buccaneers.
Kimani Hamilton, High Point, Junior
A former Mississippi State player and four-star recruit, Hamilton was key in High Point’s only game this past week, an 84-72 win away against Presbyterian. Hamilton put up 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed five rebounds in 27 minutes of action. Hamilton and High Point will look to continue their good form away against Radford on Wednesday.
