Penn basketball's Nwokedi and Woods earn Rookie of the Week honors once again

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There’s a youth movement underway for Penn’s basketball programs.

Following standout weekends, freshmen Michelle Nwokedi and Antonio Woods notched Ivy League Rookie of the Week awards. It was Nwokedi’s fifth nod of the season and Woods’ third.

Nwokedi guided the women’s squad to a perfect weekend, averaging 12.5 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game as the Red and Blue logged a pair of home victories over Harvard and Dartmouth. Nwokedi was actually co-rookie of the week, sharing the honor with Columbia’s Camille Zimmerman.

The Texas native was particularly impressive against the Crimson on Friday, putting up 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in a 71-61 triumph. Nwokedi now has season averages of 8.1 points and 6.3 boards per game despite starting only five games and averaging just 16.1 minutes per contest.

The Rookie of the Week honor was Nwokedi’s fourth nod in the last five weeks.

Despite a disappointing weekend for the men’s squad, Woods was a bright spot in a pair of tough losses for Penn. Given extra playing time in the absence of suspended junior guard Tony Hicks, the Cincinnati native dropped a team-high 12 points in Friday’s loss to Harvard before adding 11 points and six assists the following night in Hanover.

Woods’ play has given the men’s squad optimism for the future as the Quakers find themselves in the Ancient Eight’s cellar. Despite underwhelming seasons from established veterans such as Hicks and junior center Darien Nelson-Henry, Woods has averaged 7.6 points per game — good for fourth on the team — and has totaled a team-high 74 assists.

Both rookie sensations will be back in action this weekend, as the men travel to Brown and Yale while the women play their final home games of the season against the Bears and Bulldogs.