Player of the Week
Benjamin Bill, Daemen
Redshirt Junior | C | Hamburg, N.Y.
The reigning ECC Player of the Year picked up right where he left off last season as Bill has led #4 Daemen to a 4-0 start to the season with 17.3 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, 2.0 blocks per game, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 67.5 percent from the field. Bill opened the season by being named to the All-Tournament Team at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, contributing 19 points, seven boards, and four steals in a win over #19 Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 1 before following up with 17 points and 16 rebounds in a dominant defeat of Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 2. He was then named to the All-Tournament Team at the Daemen-hosted East Region Challenge after registering his second double-double of the season (20 points, 10 rebounds) in a win over Felician on Nov. 14 and notching 13 points, five rebounds, and three blocks in a defeat of Saint Anselm on Nov. 15.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ryan Heath, Daemen
Junior | G | Rochester, N.Y.
Heath's efforts on the defensive end have helped #4 Daemen get off to a 4-0 start to the season. In those four games, the 5-foot-11 junior guard is averaging a team-high 2.3 steals to go with 1.0 blocks per game. Heath was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic after playing a key role in Daemen wins over #19 Lenoir-Rhyne and Alaska Anchorage. Against LRU, Heath played 30 minutes for the first time in his career and responded with career-highs in blocks (3) and steals (4). With Daemen leading 69-66 late in the game, Heath blocked a potential game-tying three-point attempt by LRU, preserving the Wildcats' victory.
Rookie of the Week
Henri Mennander, Queens
Freshman | F | Helsinki, Finland
Mennander contributed 8.0 points per game on 83.3 percent shooting, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 2.0 blocks per game to lead the Knights to a 1-1 record to open the season. The QC rookie recorded eight points, five rebounds, and one block in his debut against Adelphi and, in Sunday’s upset victory over Pace, who received votes in the national poll heading into the week, Mennander went for eight points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and a steal in 31 minutes.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Tahj-Malik Campbell, Queens
Senior | F | Philadelphia, Pa.
Campbell powered the Knights’ offense, averaging 22.5 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, and 2.0 blocks per game after totaling 45 points, 21 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals with one double-double. Campbell opened the season with a career-best 23 points and 12 rebounds against Adelphi on Friday. In the Knights’ 65-59 upset win over Pace, who received votes in the national poll heading into the week, he posted a team-high 22 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
Michael Harrell, District of Columbia
Graduate | G | Laurel, Md.
Harrell delivered an outstanding week for the Firebirds, averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting an exceptional 72.7 percent from the field with 6.5 rebounds per game. Against Wilmington, Harrell led the Firebirds with 15 points and followed that performance with a dominant outing against Goldey-Beacom, posting 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Aaron Goldstein, Staten Island
Junior | G | Staten Island, N.Y.
Goldstein helped lead the Dolphins to their first 2-0 start in ten years averaging 21 points in two games during this past weekend's Tournament of Heroes. In CSI's season-opening win over St. Michael's the junior scored 27 points to go along with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. The following day, he added 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in the CSI victory over Chestnut Hill.
Will Landram II, St. Thomas Aquinas
Redshirt Junior | G | Gig Harbor, Wash.
Landram II averaged 18.0 points per game with 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in two season-opening contests last week for STAC. The redshirt sophomore guard tallied nine points, grabbed seven rebounds, and swiped a steal in 24 minutes against Georgian Court before recording 27 points, six rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 28 minutes versus Assumption. Landram II also shot 60.0 percent (12-of-20) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-for-13) from long range, and 64.0 percent (7-of-11) from the foul line for the Spartans in a 1-1 week.
Kohen Rowbatham, Mercy
Sophomore | G | Slidell, La.
Rowbatham averaged a team-high 19.5 points per game on 56 percent shooting in two games this week for Mercy. The sophomore opened the season with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting with four rebounds and one steal against Holy Family on Friday. The guard ended the week with a team-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting with two assists at Jefferson on Saturday.
Elisha Warren, D’Youville
Redshirt Junior | G | Woodhaven, Mich.
Warren was the go-to option for the Saints over the weekend, averaging 17.5 points per game, with 29 points against Wilmington. On the week, Warren went 12-for-24 (50 percent) from the field, including 6-for-13 (46.2 percent) from three-point and 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line. Warren also averaged 4.5 rebounds per game.
ECC Men's Basketball Weekly Award Winners
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Benjamin Bill, Daemen
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Ryan Heath, Daemen
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Henri Mennander, Queens
1. Daemen - 81 points (9 first-place votes)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas - 69 points
3. Staten Island - 54 points
4. Queens - 48 points
5. Roberts Wesleyan - 45 points
6. D'Youville - 42 points
7. District of Columbia - 24 points
8. Molloy - 22 points
9. Mercy - 20 points