Jan. 8, 2018
PITTSBURGH - Freshman swingman Eric Williams Jr. was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for a conference-high third time for his performance in a pair of Duquesne wins last week.
The Michigan native averaged 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in DU wins over George Washington and Fordham, as the Dukes moved to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2010-11.
Williams Jr. began the week with a 21-12 double-double - his sixth of the season - in a 69-52 win over GW and followed that with nine points and eight rebounds in a 64-41 victory at Fordham. Williams Jr. shot 50 percent for the week, including 6-of-7 from the 3-point arc. His five three pointers vs. GW tied his career high.
Williams Jr., the A-10's leading rebounder at 6-5, begins the week tied for fifth among Division I freshmen at 9.8 rebounds per game. The four ahead of him, 7-1 Arizona center Deandre Ayton, 6-11 Duke forward Marvin Bagley, 6-11 Texas center Mo Bamba and 7-0 UNLV center Brandon McCoy were all rated as 5-star recruits out of high school.
The versatile Williams Jr. is second on the team in scoring (14.3 ppg.), second in 3-pointers (29) and first in dunks (14).
Duquesne, winner of 10 of its past 11, returns to action Tuesday night at VCU. The game, set for an 8:00 p.m. start, will be televised by the Stadium network.
Eric Williams, Jr. of @DuqMBB posted his sixth double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds versus GW, hitting a career high-tying five 3-pointers to claim his third #A10MBB Rookie of the Week: