CCC Athletes of the Week – Week Ending January 4, 2015

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A four-time CCC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week in 2013-14, Endicott sophomore guard Kamahl Walker (Worcester, Mass.) collected his first career Player of the Week award for his efforts over winter break against Berkeley (N.Y.) and MCLA at the Trinity Holiday Invitational and this past Saturday versus last season's NCAA Championship runner-up Williams.

In the three games, Walker averaged 18.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.7 steals per game and showcased his play-making ability with a team-high 21 points in a 96-67 blowout win over MCLA and a game-high 26 points as the Gulls nearly upset a Williams program that had been to the NCAA Division III Final Four five times over the past 10 seasons in a 79-76 home loss.

In Endicott's first game at Trinity's Holiday Invitational, the Gulls suffered an 80-62 defeat at the hands of Berkeley (N.Y.) as Walker netted nine points with a rebound, an assist, and a steal in the losing effort. Walker and the Gulls responded the very next day by ending 2014 with a convincing, 29-point victory over MCLA as the sophomore poured in 21 points on 6-of-10 from the floor, a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. He added five boards and five assists as Endicott ended the 2014 portion of their schedule with a 6-3 overall record.

Their first contest of 2015 was a marquee matchup with the Ephs and despite an early 16-1 deficit, Endicott battled back to trail by just two at halftime and eventually hold a 73-70 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the second half. Walker fueled this furious comeback with 26 points on 9-of-19 shooting including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 5-of-7 at the charity stripe. He also grabbed three boards, dished out five assists, and registered a steal.

Walker's nine field goals made against Williams set a new career-high while his 26 points versus Williams and his five assists against MCLA and the Ephs were both one shy of tying his personal best for those statistics. Walker continues to lead Endicott in scoring at 16.7 points per game, fifth in the CCC. He is third in the CCC in three-point shooting at 52.5% (21-of-40).

Walker and his Endicott men's basketball teammates have a challenging slate this week against conference opponents starting with Salve Regina on Tuesday night in Newport, Rhode Island. The Gulls will also face Roger Williams (Thursday) and Curry (Saturday) at home.