EMCC sophomore Earnest Hunter grabs MACJC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors
East Mississippi Community College sophomore center Earnest Hunter has been named the MACJC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his efforts in last week’s games against division foes Coahoma and Holmes.
SCOOBA – East Mississippi Community College sophomore center Earnest Hunter has been named the MACJC Men's Basketball Player of the Week for his efforts in last week's games against division foes Coahoma and Holmes.
A product of Noxubee County High School, Hunter averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a week ago, while shooting 75 percent (12-of-16) both from the field and the line. After beginning the week with 14 points (5-9 FGs & 4-5 FTs) and seven rebounds against Coahoma, Hunter capped the week by recording his first career collegiate double-double during last Thursday's 77-52 home triumph over Holmes Community College. In addition to scoring a career-high 22 points against the Bulldogs on 7-of-7 shooting from the field and 8-of-11 accuracy from the line, the Macon native also pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds.
For the season, the 6-foot-8, 215-pound post player is averaging 8.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest in having started 17 of 18 games for the Lions. Along with shooting 59 percent from the field on the year, Hunter has been credited with a team-leading 31 blocked shots.
Hunter becomes the third EMCC men's basketball player to collect MACJC Player of the Week honors this season. Freshman guards Mack Foster (West Bolivar HS) and Jacolby Mobley (Starkville HS) previously earned league recognition in January and December, respectively.
Following Monday's open date, the East Mississippi Community College basketball teams will travel to Moorhead to take on Mississippi Delta Community College on Thursday. Coach Mark White's EMCC Lions, three-time reigning NJCAA Region 23 and MACJC North Division champions, are 12-6 overall and 5-2 in division play. Following home wins over Coahoma and Holmes last week, head coach Sharon Thompson's EMCC Lady Lions are 5-13 overall and 3-4 within the division.
Both EMCC basketball games Thursday at Moorhead are slated to be video-streamed live on the school's Ustream channel at www.ustream.tv/channel/emcc-basketball, which can be easily accessed through the school's newly launched athletics website, www.EMCCAthletics.com. EMCC media director/athletic video coordinator Derek Cody will be on hand to describe all of the play-by-play action throughout the basketball season.