Iona’s McGill and Siena’s Picket Named Pepsi Zero MAAC Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Player of the Week
Rickey McGill, Iona
Sr., Spring Valley, NY/Spring Valley
Senior Rickey McGill was the leader of the Maroon & Gold offense in its undefeated start to MAAC play. Iona's starting guard averaged 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game. He shot 58.3-percent from the floor, 57.1-percent from 3-point range, and 75-percent from the free throw line. Of the combined 197 points Iona scored against Monmouth and Fairfield, McGill was on the floor for 187 of them.
Rookie of the Week
Jalen Pickett, Siena
Fr., Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute (Spire Institute (OH))
Pickett nearly averaged a double-double, posting 15.0 points and 9.5 assists over a pair of conference contests last week. He also added 5.5 rebounds per game as well as averages of 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in another stellar all-around performance. Pickett narrowly missed a double-double, recording 16 points and dishing out eight assists while adding a pair of steals and blocks apiece in his first career MAAC contest at Saint Peter's on Thursday. He concluded the week by tallying the third double-double of his freshman campaign, posting 14 points and 11 assists against defending MAAC Co-Regular Season Champion Canisius. Pickett committed just two turnovers as opposed to his 11 assists, and just missed a potential triple-double as he added seven rebounds including five off the offensive glass. Pickett’s fourth win is tied with Evan Hymes (2011-12) for the most by a Siena freshman since Edwin Ubiles won the award 5 times during the 2006-07 season.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38
th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.