Freshman forward Michael Wang led the Quakers in scoring in both games this week, recording 41 points in only 42 minutes of play.
Credit: Alexa CotlerEven though he’s a freshman, this 6-foot-10 forward is impossible to ignore on the basketball court. Now, the Ivy League and the Big 5 are honoring him off of it.
Freshman forward Michael Wang earned the Ivy League Rookie of the Week and Big 5 Player of the Week honors following incredible performances against Miami and La Salle. In both the upset win against Miami, a perennial ACC contender, and Philadelphia rival La Salle, the freshman averaged 20.5 points while shooting 72.6 percent from the field.
The Quakers shocked the Hurricanes, winning 89-75 behind Wang’s 5 of 6 from three. They then smashed the Explorers 83-65, and will look to continue riding Wang’s excellence against a somewhat more formidable Big 5 rival when they face Villanova on Dec. 11.
Wang didn’t just light up the scoreboard in an incredibly efficient manner; the forward proved to Quakers’ fans that, given the opportunity, he can be so much more than a pure-scoring big. In both games, he showed flashes of the ability to facilitate as well as create chances for himself, totaling four assists and seven boards on the week.
As his all-around game continues to improve, he won’t just be elite when compared to the rest of his team. He’s already shown that he can go toe-to-toe with the best of the Ivy League and the Big 5. If he can improve and stay consistent on the defensive end, he’ll show that he doesn’t just deserve the starters’ minutes and accolades that he’s received so far. He’ll deserve to be in the conversation for the most talented forward in any conference.
For now, though, he’ll have to be content with being the best hoops player in Philadelphia.
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