University of Memphis Athletics
Nick King Named American Athletic Conference Rookie Of The Week
Nov 25, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2013
PROVIDENCE, R.I.- University of Memphis freshman Nick King made Tigers basketball history Monday when the American Athletic Conference office named him the league's Rookie of the Week. King is the first player in the program's history to earn a weekly honor from The American.
In last week's two games, King averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds against No. 7/9 Oklahoma State and Nicholls. The Memphis, Tenn., native also shot 57.1 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the three-point arc.
King scored a season-high 23 points and pulled down eight boards versus the Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla., Nov. 19. He netted his 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor, 1-of-2 from the arc and 6-of-9 from the free throw line. Against Nicholls Nov. 23, King had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals.
The 6-foot-7 forward scored 48 points in his first three collegiate games. The 48 points are the fifth-most by a Tigers freshman in the first three collegiate games since 2000-01. The four Tigers freshmen that scored more than King in their first three college games were Dajuan Wagner (76 points in 2001-20), Derrick Rose (55 in 2007-08), Shawne Williams (50 in 2005-06) and Tyreke Evans (49 in 2008-09).
In the early season, King leads Memphis in scoring (16.0 ppg) and is second on the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg).
The Tigers (2-1), ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Today poll this week, return to action Thursday, Nov. 28 when they meet Siena (2-4) in a 2013 Old Spice Classic quarterfinal match-up. The game, slated for an ESPN2 telecast, tips off at 5:30 p.m. (CT).
