Big East weekly awards: Shamorie Ponds earns Player of the Week, Omari Spellman wins Freshman of the Week

The St. John’s Red Storm and Villanova Wildcats house the Big East’s Player and Freshman of the Week this week.

Shamorie Ponds is the conference’s Player of the Week after two fantastic efforts. Ponds scored a combined 64 points last week, including 33 in the Johnnies’ upset win over the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. He shot 55.8 percent on his 43 shots from the field and went 9-11 from the free throw line. Ponds also averaged six boards, four assists and five steals in last week’s action.

Meanwhile, Omari Spellman and his huge week helped him win Freshman of the Week. The current frontrunner for the conference’s Freshman of the Year award was outstanding in Villanova’s two victories over the Seton Hall Pirates and Creighton Bluejays. He scored a combined 40 points, including 26 against the Pirates. He shot 14-22 from the field, good for a mark of 63.6 percent. He made SIX 3-pointers in the blowout win over Seton Hall on Sunday, an early career-high for him. Spellman also averaged seven boards and 1.5 blocks while committing just one turnover in 60 minutes of action.

The Big East’s Honor Roll included Kelan Martin of the Butler Bulldogs, Alpha Diallo of the Providence Friars, Desi Rodriguez of the Seton Hall Pirates, Jalen Brunson of Villanova and Trevon Bluiett of the Xavier Musketeers.