NEW YORK – CJ Gunn of DePaul and Stefan Vaaks of Providence earned BIG EAST Weekly Honors. Gunn poured in a career-high 31 points – including seven 3-pointers – to go with seven rebounds in the Blue Demons’ lone contest of the week – a home win over Marquette. Vaaks averaged 22.5 points and 4.0 assists in two games for the Friars.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
CJ Gunn, DePaul, G, Sr.
Gunn had a career-high performance in DePaul’s win over Marquette, pouring in 31 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists. The 6-7 guard connected on 11-of-23 from the floor, including a career-best seven 3-pointers for the Blue Demons. Gunn scored six of DePaul’s final seven points down the stretch to seal the win in their lone contest of the week. The seven 3-pointers tie him for fourth-most in program history. Gunn’s 31 points were the most by a Blue Demon since Dec. 29, 2022 and it marked the seventh 30-point performance of the season by a BIG EAST player; the fifth in a conference game.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Stefan Vaaks, Providence, G, Fr.
Vaaks shined for Providence, averaging 22.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in a 1-1 week. The 6-7 guard connected on 50.0% (16-32) of his shots from the floor, including five 3-pointers, and was 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Against Villanova, Vaaks tallied 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting (three 3FG) in 37 minutes of play. He finished his week with 24 points and a season-best seven assists in a home win over Creighton. He has scored in double figures in each of his 18 games this season, including tallying 20 or more points in each of his last three outings. It marks the second time Vaaks has earned BIG EAST weekly honors as a freshman.
BIG EAST Honor Roll
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn, C, Sr.
Reed averaged a double-double in a 2-0 week for UConn. The 6-11 senior averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 assist, while connecting on 54.2% (13-24) of his shots from the floor. Reed finished with 21 points, nine boards, and three blocked shots at Seton Hall. Last time out at Georgetown, the senior recorded a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
Jamier Jones, Providence, G, Fr.
Jones averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in a 1-1 week for Providence, connecting on 57.1% (16-28) shots from the field. Against Villanova, the 6-6 newcomer scored a season-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting. In a win over Creighton, Jones logged his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds to go with three steals.
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s, F, Sr.
Ejiofor averaged 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while connecting on better than 65% (15-23) of his field goal attempts in a 2-0 week for the Red Storm. The senior forward tallied 22 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in a win over Marquette. Last time out in a win at Villanova, Ejiofor finished with 17 points, seven boards, an assist, and a blocked shot.
Devin Askew, Villanova, G, Sr.
Askew averaged 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in a 1-1 week for Villanova. He connected on 54.5% (12-22) from the floor, including 6-of-11 from the perimeter. In a win at Providence, Askew scored 20 points and dished out seven assists. Last time out against St. John’s, the 6-5 guard tallied 21 points and four rebounds, while making 6-of-10 shots from the floor (3-4 3FG).
Tre Carroll, Xavier, F, Gr.
Carroll poured in 29 points to go with nine rebounds and five blocked shots in Xavier’s lone game of the week – a home win over Butler. The 6-8 forward connected on 12-of-22 shots from the floor in 34 minutes. His five blocked shots were a career-high and the most by a Musketeer this season.