AUGUSTA, Ga. - Justice Sutton has once again been recognized for his stellar play on the hardwood for the Cardinals last week. After being selected as the Great Lakes Valley Conference's Player of the Week, he also picks up NCAA Division II National Player of the Week honors from the National Basketball Coaches Association and Division II Conference Sports Information Directors of America.
Sutton continued his stellar play for the surging Cardinals (12-7), as he averaged 25.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, two steals and 1.5 assists per game in two wins last week. He connected on 19-of-31 (61.3 percent) of his shots from the field, four-of-five from three-point range and nine-of-10 at the free throw line in wins over Upper Iowa and Quincy that put Jewell one-half game behind Great Lakes Valley Conference leader Illinois Springfield. He opened the week with his second double-double of the season, matching his career high with 30 points and pulling down a career-best 13 rebounds in an 83-74 win over Upper Iowa. Sutton scored 17 of the Cardinals' final 31 points, including 12 in succession at one point to help his squad hold off the Peacocks down the stretch. On Saturday, he made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts and added eight rebounds in a 21-point effort as Jewell defeated Quincy 63-51 for its seventh straight victory.
This is the first such award for any Jewell men's basketball player in the Division II era and the second for the GLVC this season, joining Upper Iowa's Kyle Hrncir (December 9).