High Point University forward John Brown has been named Big South Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this season, the conference announced on Monday. Brown averaged 22.5 points and 7.0 rebounds as High Point split two games last week. He also became HPU’s top Div. I freshman scorer.
Brown shot 58.8 percent from the floor and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line in the two games last week. His fifth Freshman of the Week honor tied Joe Knight for most ever by an HPU player. He was named Freshman of the Week five times in 2001-02. Two players have received the award six times: Davidson’s Frank Harris in 1991-92 and Coastal Carolina’s Jack Leasure in 2004-05.
At VMI, Brown scored 21 points with nine rebounds and shot 10-for-16 from the floor. He also had a block and a steal as High Point got its first win at Cameron Hall since the 2007-08 season.
Brown’s 21 points at VMI gave him 436 total for the season. He moved past Nick Barbour to become High Point’s top freshman scorer since the Panthers moved up to NCAA Div. I in 1999-2000. Barbour scored 427 points in his freshman year of 2008-09.
On Saturday as the Panthers hosted Morgan State, Brown scored 24 points with five rebounds. He shot 10-for-18 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. It was his 12th game scoring at least 20 points this season.
Brown is averaging 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 52.0 percent from the floor in 27 games as a redshirt-freshman. He ranks fourth among freshmen in national scoring.
Brown and the Panthers finish off their Big South schedule this week by hosting Radford on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Campbell on Saturday at 4 p.m.