STEPHENVILLE, Texas — After being named the SoCal Challenge Sand Division MVP,
Jakorie Smith added to his trophy case as he was named the WAC player of the Week for the first time in his career, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.
Smith helped lead the Texans to a perfect 2-0 week and the SoCal Challenge Sand Division title. Smith was named the MVP of the Sand Division, the second WAC player to earn the honor in the first three years of the invitational. The Texans are off to a 4-2 start, its best start to the season in their D1 era.
At the SoCal Challenge, Smith led the team in scoring in both wins against Austin Peay and Cal State Bakersfield. On Monday, Smith posted 28 points, the highest in all three years at the Sand Division of the SoCal Challenge. He also co-led the team with seven rebounds and two steals. Smith led all scorers again on Wednesday scoring 17 points on a team-best three from behind the arc. His three steals also was a game-high.
The senior's 28-point performance was tied for the most in the WAC this week. Smith's 11 made field goals against Austin Peay also tied for the most this week in the conference. The Utica, Mississippi native was the only player in the league to be in the top five this week in points per game (22.5) and steals per game (2.5).
This season Smith ranks top 10 in the WAC in four categories. He is second in steals (2.33), sixth in scoring (16.33), and seventh in both Field Goal Percentage (.456) and total three-point made field goals (12).
The honor is Smith's first as a Texan, and the first of the program since Nov. 21 of last year when
Freddy Hicks was named WAC Player of the Week. Smith is the fourth player in program history in the D1 era to earn the honor. He joins
Freddy Hicks, Tahj Small, and Montre Gipson as the only Texans to receive the weekly conference honor.
The Texans will open their WAC slate with a road contest at Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, and Kyle Crews will have the radio call for the Texans.
