Fortson named SEC Freshman of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –-A week ago, after recording just the second triple-double in school history, Arkansas freshman guard Courtney Fortson was named the Southeastern Conference’s Player of the Week.

This week, he’ll have to settle for being the SEC’s Freshman of the Week, which the league office announced on Monday.

The Montgomery, Ala., native averaged 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists in wins over Austin Peay and Stephen F. Austin. He was named to the Jim Thorpe Classic all-tournament team after helping the Razorbacks win the team title.

He had 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists against APSU, and 13 points, five rebounds and seven assists against SFA, and shot 50 percent from the floor (11-22) for the week.

Fortson was named the SEC’s overall player of the week last week after his triple-double of 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in the 98-70 victory over North Carolina Central. The only other Hog to record a triple-double was All-American Alvin Robertson with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 70-66 victory at Texas on Jan. 19, 1984.

For the season, Fortson is second on the team in scoring (15.7), third in rebounding (5.6), first in assists (6.5), third in field goal percentage (.510) and first in three-point percentage (.464).

In addition to Fortson’s two selections by the SEC this year, junior forward Michael Washington was also named the SEC Player of the Week the opening week of the season following his 30-point, 14-rebound effort in the win over Southeastern Louisiana.

Fortson’s selection as freshman player of the week is the first for Arkansas since 2007, the year the award began, when Patrick Beverley was honored three times.