Western Illinois men's basketball player Garret Covington (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) has been named Papa John's Scholar-Athlete of the Week Monday (Dec. 15) for his performance on the court this past week, and continued success in the classroom.
Covington was also named The Summit League 'Player of the Week' Monday (Dec. 15) after helping the Leathernecks go 2-0 this past week.
The sophomore guard, whose 17.8 points per game on the season leads The Summit League in scoring, averaged 22.5 points in this past week's two contests. Covington tallied 27 in WIU's come-from-behind win over Idaho before totaling 18 in the Leathernecks victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) preseason favorite Alabama State.
Western trailed by 17 points early in the second half in their win over Idaho before going on a 20-0 run which gave WIU its first lead of the game. Covington, who only had two points in the first half, scored 25 of the Leathernecks' 53 second-half points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field, and 6-of-6 shooting from long range. His six consecutive triples made tied a WIU single-game record.
Covington boasted a more balanced attack in the Leathernecks' win over ASU, scoring 11 points in the first half and seven in the second.
Covington also leads Western Illinois in minutes per game (31.0), field goals (51), three-pointers (28), free throws (30), three-point field goal percentage (45.9) and free throw percentage (78.9).
Nationally, Covington ranks in the Top 100 of five categories: 27th in total three-pointers made (28), 36th in three-point field goal percentage (45.9), 37th in three-pointer per game average (3.11), 59th in points per game (17.8), and 72nd in total points.
In the classroom, Covington owns a 3.121 grade point average as a pre-law enforcement and justice administration major.
