BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After producing back-to-back 20-plus point outings, Darren White of Campbell University has been named Big South Conference player of the week by College Sports Madness.
College Sports Madness (collegesportsmadness.com) identifies the highest impact players nationally and one from each conference in its weekly feature.
A junior wing from Danville, Va., White averaged 24 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1.5 steals as the Camels won their first two Big South contests of the season. He shot 61.5 percent from the floor (16-26), including 3-6 threes, and made 13-16 from the foul line (.813).
With leading scorer and rebounder Eric Griffin saddled by foul (vs. Liberty) and injury (vs. High Point) problems, White produced his third and fourth 20-plus point contests of the season.
On Thursday, the former Group A Division 2 State player of the year from Dan River High School scored 20 points on 6-11 from the field, plus 7-9 from the line in a 96-82 win over Liberty in Campbell's Big South opener.
Two days later, with Griffin sidelined the final 24:56 with a cut in his shooting hand, White responded by scoring 18 of hits game-high 28 points in the final period as the Camels erased a 9-point 2nd-half deficit to defeat High Point 72-62. White made 10-of-15 shots, 2-of-3 threes and 6-of-7 free throws, pulled down 7 rebounds and blocked 3 shots against the Panthers.
For the season, White leads all Big South scorers (20.1), rates 4th in FG percentage (.550), 2nd in blocks (1.63) and 13th in rebounds (6.1). He has scored in double digits in all 8 games.
Camel Notes:
Campbell continued the program's best start ever on the Division I level (7-1) before taking a week-long break for final exams. Ranked 125th of 345 Division I schools in this week's Jeff Sagarin basketball ratings, the Camels return to action Saturday (Dec. 10) at home against Division III Methodist in a 1:00 p.m. start.
CU entered this week's play ranked second in the nation in team field goal percentage (.532), while also leading the Big South Conference in 3-point FG% (.457), free throw % (.739), assists (17.88) and blocked shots (6.13)
Eric Griffin was limited to just 23 minutes due to foul trouble on Thursday, but Trey Freeman (28), Darren White (20) and Rico Ferguson (19) combined for 67 points in a 96-82 win over Liberty in the Big South opener for both teams. Freeman and Ferguson's totals marked career highs.
During Saturday's comeback win over High Point, Freeman scored 15 points and dealt a career-high 9 assists.
Freeman leads all Big South freshmen in scoring (17.0, 6th overall), assists (4.5, 3rd overall), FG% (.457, 10th overall), FT% (.918, 1st overall) and minutes played (35.0, 1st overall.
