SEC Players of the Week revealed for first week of February hoops

On3 imageby:Steve Samra02/06/23

SamraSource

The SEC Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week has been revealed for the first week of hoops during February.

As the season progresses, we’re getting closer and closer to the NCAA Tournament. At the moment, these two outstanding SEC athletes are being recognizes, as they’re helping their program immensely in their chase to make the bracket.

SEC Player, Freshman of the Week:

SEC Player of the Week: Tolu Smith, Mississippi State Bulldogs

“Smith, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound senior from Bay St. Louis, Miss., averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and a steal in wins over South Carolina and Missouri. He became the sixth MSU player since 2017-18 and 42nd player overall to eclipse 1,000 points in program history. Smith has ripped off double figures in seven straight games and registered double-doubles in five of his last seven outings headed by a trio of 20-10 games. The 25 points versus Missouri was an SEC season-high for Smith, and the nine free throws made were a career-high,” wrote the conference.

SEC Freshman of the Week: Cason Wallace, Kentucky Wildcats

“Wallace, a 6-foot-4, 193-pound freshman from Dallas, Texas, had 20 points, three blocks, and two assists in the Wildcat’s win over Florida. Wallace missed the win at Ole Miss with an injury but bounced back to go for 20 points, in the win over Florida. He scored 10 of Kentucky’s final 16 points in the game and notched a career-best three blocks. The contest was Wallace’s 14th double-figure scoring game and second with 20 or more,” read the press release.

Moreover, Wallace has captured his second consecutive SEC Freshman of the Week Award, as he continues to impress during his first season in Lexington. As for Smith, the Mississippi State star is helping the Bulldogs make some waves, and he’s got an eye towards being a tough matchup for any defender over the rest of the season.

It’ll be fascinating to see who else steps up over the next month, but it’s starting off with a bang with Tolu Smith and Cason Wallace.