INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Joey Ramirez of Concordia University (TX) was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Player of the Week for the week ending December 7. Complete Release
On the women's side, Jaycie Christopher of University of Southern Maine earned the honor.
Ramirez, a 6-2 senior guard from Weimer, Texas, produced a career-best performance and averaged a double-double as Concordia (receiving votes, D3Hoops.com) won both of its games last week. In a 122-102 victory over Hardin-Simmons on Monday, he scored a career-high 44 points (15-of-30 FT, 9-of-11 FT, 5-of-7 3FG) and added 13 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and a block. Then, in a 108-91 victory over Huston-Tillotson on Saturday, Ramirez finished with 25 points (9-of-21 FG, 6-of-7 FT, 1-of-5 3FG), nine rebounds and seven assists. For the week, he averaged 34.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks, while shooting 47.1 (24-of-51) from the field, 83.3 percent (15-of-18) from the foul line and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from behind the arc. For his efforts, Ramirez, who leads NCAA Division III at 28.2 ppg, was also named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Player of the Week.
Ramirez is just the third men’s player in conference history to earn USBWA National Player of the Week. Calvin Williams IV of University of St. Thomas secured the national honor in January of 2024 and Andrew Romero III of former SCAC member Johnson & Wales University Denver grabbed the national honor in February 2019. The USBWA began recognizing national Players of the Week in Division III in 2014-15.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the 11th season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season.
