NC State guard Jarkel Joiner named ACC Player of the Week
Following a tremendous trio of performances last week, the ACC named NC State guard Jarkel Joiner its player of the week. He is the first member of the Wolfpack’s men’s basketball squad to win a weekly conference award.
The graduate transfer guard picked up the honor after averaging 19.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals over 3 games in the Bahamas at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament last week. He also hit 45 percent of his field goal attempts and 85.1 percent of his free throws.
“Joiner was lethal in the second half of the three games, scoring 41 (13.7 per game) of his 59 points in the final period,” NC State’s press release announcing the award read. “Joiner led NC State in scoring in its wins over Dayton and Butler in the Bahamas.
“He scored a season-high 27 points in the win over Dayton on Thanksgiving day. The Oxford, Miss., scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half as he helped key a 17-0 run for the Pack that turned a one point deficit into a 16 point lead. On Friday, he scored 15 points to lead five NC State players in double figures in the win over Butler.”
The guard’s emergence as a reliable scoring option in the closing minutes of games has been a welcomed addition to the Wolfpack backcourt, pairing nicely with superstar Terquavion Smith. NC State assistant coach Joel Justus, who coached against Joiner during his time in the SEC, shared his thoughts on what the graduate transfer brings to the Pack.
“Knowing Jarkel Joiner and seeing him at Ole Miss on the other side of the fence, to now being in the foxhole with him, is fun,” Justus said. “Because you know how he can kind of impact the game, you know how he can get to spots on the floor, you know how he can make others better and at the same time create for himself.
“He has an elite level of spirit about him. He’s a guy that comes in the gym and, immediately, the excitement is heightened, the mood is lifted.”
Through 7 games this season, Joiner is averaging a career-high 18.1 points per game, grabbing 3.9 rebounds per game and dishing out 3.3 assists per game. NC State takes the court once again Tuesday for its home game against William & Mary slated for 7 p.m..
Here’s the full list of past ACC weekly awards this season:
2022-23 ACC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week Honors
Nov. 14 – Nate Laszewski, Gr., F, Notre Dame
Nov. 21 – Reece Beekman, Jr., G, Virginia
Nov. 28 – Jarkel Joiner, Gr., G, NC State
2022-23 ACC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week Honors
Nov. 14 – Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
Nov. 21 – Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
Nov. 28 – Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
