Jalen Jones (pictured) of Texas A&M has been named SEC Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday, Jan. 4.

Jones, a 6-7, 220-pound senior forward from Dallas, Texas, averaged 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins over Cal Poly and Arkansas. Jones exploded for a career-high 28 points during last Saturday’s SEC-opening victory over Arkansas at Reed Arena. The Dallas native converted 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, while grabbing seven rebounds and notching two steals. Earlier in the week, Jones scored 11 points with six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal against Cal Poly. Meanwhile, the SEC Freshman of the Week honors went to LSU’s Ben Simmons.

A 6-10, 240-pound forward from Melbourne, Australia, Simmons averaged 28.5 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and 1.5 blocks in games against Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. Simmons had 21 points, 12 rebounds in LSU’s game against Wake Forest. In the conference opener at Vanderbilt he registered the second-highest scoring game of his career with 36 points to go with 14 rebounds and four assists. He made 10-of-15 field goals and 16-of-19 free throws against the Commodores. Simmons drew 25 fouls in the two games and recorded his SEC-best ninth and 10th double-doubles on the season.

Texas A&M Athletics Photo