Feast Week provided all the drama we could stomach, and Hofstra’s Tyler Thomas filled his plate to the brim with the country’s first 40-point game.
Each week here at Heat Check CBB, we look at 15 of the most notable college basketball players in the country using two tools. First, we call out three players from the Gold Star Guide, our in-house fantasy sports-style scoring system: the top overall scorer for the week; the top single-game performance; and the top-scoring freshman. Additionally, we use Bart Torvik’s T-Rank Player Stats page to find players who meet various statistical thresholds based on different on-court roles, which we collectively refer to as our Arthur awards, or simply, Arthurs.
It’s worth noting that the date range for these awards runs from Sunday to Saturday each week. With that in mind, here are the Heat Check CBB players of the week for Nov. 19-25, starting with the first 40-point game of the year.
More Heat Check CBB:
- NCAA Basketball: Limitations for Kansas, Virginia highlight the latest Rauf Report
- NCAA Basketball: Takeaways from Day 2 of the Maui Invitational
- Weekly awards (Nov. 12-18): Hunter Dickinson, Dillon Jones earn top weekly honors
Player of the Week: Tyler Thomas, Hofstra
133.42 Gold Star points this week (44.47 avg.)
Although Tyler Thomas was one of just 95 players to score a combined 1,000 points over the past two seasons, the fifth-year senior hadn’t hit the 30-point mark since Dec. 7, 2021. That is, until this past week. In three games, Thomas averaged 30.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in the Gulf Coast Showcase. The 6-3 guard hit 30 points on the dot against Wright State in the semifinal to snap that drought. Then, he became the first D-1 player this year to score 40 in a game as Hofstra beat High Point 97-92 in overtime to win the tournament title.
Freshman of the Week: JT Toppin, New Mexico
97.95 Gold Star points this week (32.65 avg.)
As the Lobos deal with injuries to some of their top stars, a new one may be emerging for New Mexico. JT Toppin announced himself at the Ball Dawgs Classic in Nevada, scoring 27 points on a perfect 11-of-11 shooting on 2-pointers in the opener against Toledo. The 6-9 freshman has started all but one game so far for Richard Pitino, and there’s little doubt he’ll keep his spot after helping UNM go 3-0 at the tournament this week. He averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals as the Lobos beat Rice and Pepperdine in addition to the Rockets.
Performance of the Week: Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State
51.17 Gold Star points (Nov. 19 vs. Washington)
Before getting into Jaedon LeDee‘s dominant day, a quick caveat: Tyler Thomas’ 40-piece against High Point was actually the highest-scoring game in the Gold Star system this week. But in the interest of spreading things around, we’ll highlight another top performance instead. Like Thomas, LeDee went nuclear in the title game of his early-season tournament. In a 100-97 OT win over Washington in the Continental Tires Main Event, the fifth-year senior set career highs in points (34), rebounds (17), offensive rebounds (8), defensive rebounds (9), free throws made (14) and free throws attempted (18). He’s now leading the country in scoring at 25.5 points per game.
Main Attraction: Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
Stat thresholds: 80.0 MIN%, 35.0 USG%, 125 ORtg, < 25.0 AST% (min. 2 games)
One of the more versatile players on this list, Wade Taylor IV earned our Cutpurse award last week as D-1’s most dangerous pickpocket. And while he also boasts a top-100 assist rate nationally, Taylor put matters into his own hands this week. In the Aggies’ Thanksgiving win over Penn State, the 6-foot guard went for 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He couldn’t stave off FAU on Friday, though, despite his career-best 35 points. Regardless, Taylor has positioned himself firmly in the All-SEC and All-America discussions early on in his junior season:
Floor General: Darius Brown II, Utah State
Stat thresholds: 75.0 MIN%, 30.0 AST%, 10.0 TO% (min. 3 games)
Sixth-year senior Darius Brown II continues to make his mark all over the western United States. Brown started his career with four seasons at CSUN (including a medical redshirt in 2022) and then helped take Montana State to the NCAA Tournament last season. He hauled in all-conference honors from both leagues, and he may be due for more in 2023-24. Brown averaged 8.0 assists this week, highlighted by an 11-point, 10-assist outing against Stephen F. Austin to win the Cayman Islands Classic. As a result, he’s already on pace to set records at Utah State:
Surgeon: Jordan King, Richmond
Stat thresholds: 35.0 3P%, 50.0 far 2P%, 65.0 close 2P%, 80.0 FT% (min. 10 attempts each)
Thanks to the surefire shooting of Jordan King, the Spiders went 2-1 this week and gave a good Colorado team a run for its money. King topped the 20-point mark in each game, averaging 22.7 points on .600/.421/.800 shooting splits. The former Siena and ETSU guard has settled in nicely at Richmond. So far this season, he is one of three Division I players shooting 45 percent on 3-pointers, 55 percent on 2-pointers and 85 percent on free throws with at least 20 attempts in each category (Alabama’s Mark Sears and Wake Forest’s Cameron Hildreth are the others).
Highlight Reel: Jalon Moore, Oklahoma
Stat thresholds: 5 dunks, 1 3PM, 140 ORtg, 1.0 STL%, 1.0 BLK%
Jalon Moore may not be one of the top scoring options for the Sooners, but the Georgia Tech transfer has been a big part of Oklahoma’s 6-0 start. Moore had a career-high 18 points against Iowa on Thanksgiving, feasting on the Hawkeyes to the tune of three dunks, two blocks, a steal and a 3-pointer. On Friday against USC, he only had four points, but both came on dunks, helping him qualify for this award. In fact, Moore has managed to flush one home in each of his five games this season, and he has emerged as a must-watch player for Oklahoma.
Junkyard Dog: Fardaws Aimaq, California
Stat thresholds: 60.0 MIN%, 15.0 ORB%, 30.0 DRB% (min. 3 games)
While Fardaws Aimaq made headlines for what happened off the court at the SoCal Challenge, his on-court performance deserves its own discussion. Aimaq, who is tied for 10th nationally in rebounds per game, pulled in a total of 43 rebounds in three games this week, highlighted by 18 boards in an overtime loss to San Diego State. The fifth-year big man is one of only three players with offensive and defensive rebounding rates of 15.0 and 25.0 percent, respectively, joining North Carolina’s Armando Bacot and Joel Soriano of St. John’s (min. 150 minutes).
Cutpurse: Reece Beekman, Virginia
Stat thresholds: 80.0 MIN%, 5.0 STL%, < 1.0 FC/40
Another week, another Virginia player earning one of our defense-based awards. Ryan Dunn took home the honors as our Brick Wall last week, but now it’s Reece Beekman getting shine for his pickpocketing skills. Over the past week, he managed two steals in the Cavaliers’ loss to Wisconsin and then had another four against West Virginia. It was the third time in six games that Beekman had four steals — and the sixth time in his past 12 games dating back to last season. The fourth-year guard has had multiple swipes in all but one contest so far.
Artilleryman: David Coit, Northern Illinois
Stat thresholds: 50.0 3P%, 15 3PA, 20.0 3PA/100
While this award often goes to players who specialize almost entirely in 3-pointers, David Coit was prolific enough from downtown to earn the nod. NIU is in the midst of a turnaround under head coach Rashon Burno, and Coit is the scoring engine driving the rebuild. The JUCO product is averaging 20.8 points in his second season for the Huskies, including 3.2 made 3-pointers per game. In Northern Illinois’ only game this week, Coit exploded for a career-high 34 points. He also set a new career high with eight made 3s on 15 attempts in the road win at DePaul.
Infantryman: Matthew Lee, Missouri State
Stat thresholds: 80.0 FT%, 20 FTA, 120.0 FT rate
Back in 2022, Matthew Lee was a starter on the magical St. Peter’s team that went to the Elite Eight. He parlayed that run into an up-transfer to Missouri State, but his debut season with the Bears was cut short after just two starts due to a torn ACL. He’s back now, though, and he made a huge mark this week to earn MVP honors at the Paradise Jam. When the team returned to the mainland, Lee exploded for a career-high 28 points against SC State — including going 14-of-16 from the stripe, doubling his previous career-high for free throws in a game.
Unicorn: Kobe Williamson, Seattle
Stat thresholds: 10.0 BLK%, 10.0 AST%, 40.0 3P%, 5 3PA, 5.0 3PA/100
After averaging just 5.0 points over his first three years in Seattle, Kobe Williamson — with his incredible haircut and mustache — is having a coming-out party in 2023-24. Williamson had already set a new career-high scoring total with 17 against VCU on Nov. 18, and then he blew that number out of the water in the Redhawks’ only game this week. The 6-8 Aussie went for 28 points on 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc against Idaho, adding a pair of blocks and an assist. Williamson is developing into a player to watch out in the WAC.
Brick Wall: Caden Powell, Wyoming
Stat thresholds: 80.0 MIN%, 15.0 BLK%, < 3.0 FC/40
As a freshman, Caden Powell made 28 appearances for the Cowboys — but not much impact. That’s changing quickly for the 6-10 Texan, though. Powell set a new career-high for blocks, swatting four shots away against Furman in the Myrtle Beach Invitational last Sunday. He also scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, securing his first collegiate double-double. With early wins over mid-major darlings like Furman and Charleston, Wyoming is well on its way to erasing the bad taste of last season. Powell is a big reason why.
Glue Guy: Aboubacar Traore, Long Beach State
Stat thresholds: 75.0 MIN%, < 17.5 USG%, 5.0 ORB%, 15.0 DRB%, 15.0 AST%, 2.0 STL%, 2.0 BLK%
The season is only a few weeks old, but it’s already been a strange ride for the Beach. LBSU has alternated losses and wins in its 3-4 start to the season, but one constant has been Aboubacar Traore. The 6-5 wing leads the team in assists (3.6 apg) and blocks (2.3 bpg), and he ranks second in scoring (12.9 ppg), rebounds (6.9 rpg) and steals (1.9 spg). His versatility helped Long Beach State knock off Michigan and DePaul earlier this month, and Traore is one of the reasons why the Beach will be a top contender for the Big West regular-season crown.
Secret Weapon: Riley Allenspach, Samford
Stat thresholds: < 40.0 MIN%, 20.0 USG%, 130 ORtg (min. 3 games)
Though he didn’t make much impact in his first four games, freshman big man Riley Allenspach arrived on the scene for Samford this week. In just 37 minutes across three contests, Allenspach scored 29 points on 12-of-19 shooting (63.2 FG%) and pulled down 14 rebounds. The 6-10 North Carolina native also went 2-of-3 from deep for his first-ever college 3-pointers. He’ll need to watch the fouls going forward — Allenspach fouled out in just 13 minutes against NC A&T — but he is already living up to the potential that scouts were buzzing over this summer.