CLEVELAND –
Chad Akins and
Veronica Walker were named the Gulf South Conference West Division’s Players of the Week on Wednesday, giving Delta State a sweep of the division’s basketball awards.
Walker (Indianola, Miss./Gentry HS) was named the GSC West women’s basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 30.5 points and 16 rebounds in Delta State’s two games this week. She netted a career-high 34 points in the Lady Statesmen’s win over Harding.
And if one career high wasn’t enough, the sophomore center pulled in a career high 19 rebounds in the Lady Statesmen’s setback at Henderson State. Walker also scored 27 points in that game.
Walker has registered double-doubles in her last three games for the Lady Statesmen. Her 65 percent field-goal percentage leads the GSC, and she tanks third in the conference in scoring with 19.7 points per game.
Akins (Madison, Miss./Madison Central HS) claimed the award on the men’s side after leading the Statesmen to back-to-back victories last week over Harding and Henderson State. During those two games, Akins averaged 16.5 points and nine assists, while shooting a gaudy 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the field.
The senior point guard has been a consistent playmaker for the Statesmen this season. Akins has averaged 7.4 assists per game through 17 games, which leads the GSC and ranks fourth nationally.
Akins is also chasing Delta State’s career assist record, currently held by former Statesmen and current South Dakota State head coach Scott Nagy (1985-88). Nagy doled out 559 assists during his DSU career, while Akins needs only 45 more to become the record-holder.
The Lady Statesmen and Statesmen return to action Thursday when they host Ouachita Baptist to open the second round of GSC play. Tipoff times from Sillers Coliseum are 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.