by AMHERST, N.Y. – Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.) of the Daemen University men’s basketball team has been honored by the East Coast Conference for his play last week. Hemphill was selected the ECC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for games played Feb. 13-19. The announcement of award winners was made via the league’s weekly sport report, which was released this afternoon. It marks the second time this season Hemphill has earned the honor. He was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his three-year career back on Jan. 9.
It also marks the fourth time in the past eight weeks that Daemen has produced the ECC Defensive Player of the Week. Hemphill and redshirt senior Joey Atkins (Watervliet, N.Y.) have both been two-time honorees over that stretch.
Hemphill totaled a team-high 17 rebounds (14 defensive), two blocks and a team-high five steals in a 2-0 week despite averaging just 19 minutes off the bench. He led the Wildcats to a big win over league-leading St. Thomas Aquinas College, as he was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and totaled a career-high 21 points and team-high nine rebounds in just 21 minutes of the bench. Also collected three steals against the Spartans. Hemphill made 12-of-13 shots and averaged 14.0 points and 8.5 rebounds over the two games. He headed up a defense that limited STAC and Mercy to a combined 34-percent (38-113) from the field overall and 19-percent (8-42) from three point land. Daemen held STAC, which entered the game averaging a league-high 86 points per game, to a season low 57 points and Mercy to just 51 points.
A product of Cardinal O’Hara High School, Hemphill has proven to be a solid sixth man. Sidelined by injury most of his first two seasons, he has played in 24 of 25 games this season and is averaging 18.4 minutes off the bench. He totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds during a win over Alliance on Nov. 27 en route to his first career double-double. In a win over Roberts Wesleyan on Jan. 11 he scored 16 points and established a new career-high for rebounds (14), assists (6) and blocks (4). He is averaging 8.3 points per game and leads the team in offensive rebounds (61) and total rebounds per game (6.6). He ranks first among all ECC players in field goal percentage (81-135/.600).
