Dec. 19, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Mike Watkins earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after leading the Penn State men's basketball team to a 92-76 win over St. John's Sunday in Madison Square Garden. The award is the first freshman of the week honor for the Nittany Lions since the rookie recognition began in 2010-11.
Watkins scored 15 points, corralled 13 rebounds, handed out four assists and recorded three blocks in the Nittany Lions' win over the Red Storm in the MSG Holiday Festival. The freshman of Philadelphia posted his third double-double of the season, becoming the first Penn State freshman to accomplish the feat since 2003.
Watkins has led the Nittany Lions in rebounding seven times this season and is ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 8.4 boards per game.
The Phelps School product is tied for the most blocks in the Big Ten (40), a mark which is also tied for third in Division I. Earlier this season, he had an eight-block performance against Wright State (12/3), producing the sixth-most all-time by a Penn State player and the most since 1999.