By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For the second straight week to open the 2021-22 campaign, the University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball program can tout one of its own as Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week as KJ Simon earned that title today.
Today’s announcement marks only the sixth time in school history (first since Feb. 16-23, 2015) that the Skyhawks have produced two different winners of the OVC Newcomer of the Week award in back-to-back weeks. Seven days ago, the league announced KK Curry as its first OVC Newcomer of the Week recipient of the season.
Simon was a scoring machine for UT Martin this past weekend, averaging 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks over three games in the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. Returning to his home state, the Orlando native shot 46.8 percent (22-of-47) from the field and canned 87.5 percent (7-for-8) of his free throw tries.
The 6-3, 200-pound southpaw opened his week with a game-high 19 points, four rebounds and two assists at Florida Atlantic on Friday. Simon followed that with 15 points, five rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal on Saturday against Troy. He then equaled his career-high with 21 points (on 9-of-13 shooting) to go along with two rebounds, two assists and two blocks in a win over North Dakota on Sunday.
Simon becomes just the 27th different Skyhawk to secure the OVC Newcomer of the Week award. Through five games, the Bethune-Cookman transfer ranks third in the OVC in scoring (17.8 points per game), fifth in blocked shots (1.4 per contest) and eighth in steals (1.4 per outing).
UT Martin returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, Nov. 24 when it hosts Carver College at 2 p.m. in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information