WASHINGTON – The Atlantic 10 Conference has named George Washington senior Rafael Castro the Under Armour Men's Basketball Player of the Week. George Mason freshman Emmanuel Kanga was chosen as the league’s Rookie of the Week. The awards were announced Monday and are for games played Dec. 29 – Jan. 4.
 
Castro averaged 26.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 assists while shooting 77.8 percent (21-from-27) from the field and 78.6 percent (11-for-14) from the free throw line. Castro tied his career high with 27 points in Wednesday's road win at Richmond, making 10-of-12 field goals and 7-of-7 free throws. He added six rebounds, three steals, a block and an assist. He then followed it up with a double-double of 26 points (11-for-15 from the field), 14 rebounds (nine offensive), four blocks, three steals and two assists in in Saturday's win over La Salle. Castro became the first player in the nation this season with 26/14/4/3 and the first to post such a game in the Atlantic 10 since 2005.
 
Kanga put together a strong week for George Mason while averaging 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and shooting 90 percent in two wins. A forward from Libreville, Gabon, Kanga began the week by dropping a career-best 17 points (7-of-8 from the field) to go along with eight rebounds in a win at La Salle. He followed that up by tallying all eight of his points in the second half and grabbing four rebounds in a win over Rhode Island. Overall, he tallied 12 rebounds in 33 total minutes of action.
 
HONOR ROLL
Sam Brown tallied 23 points with five rebounds and four assists for Davidson in the double overtime league-opener versus Duquesne and added 13 in a win over Saint Joseph’s … Davidson freshman Devin Brown scored seven points versus Duquesne while also grabbing three rebounds … Javon Bennett scored the game winning layup for Dayton after a furious late rally at Loyola-Chicago, part of a 24-point, four-assist performance … Duquesne’s Tarence Guinyard averaged 23.0 points and 5.5 assists, included 24 points, with a trio of 3-pointers in overtime, to lift the Dukes past Davidson in the double OT A-10 opener… La Salle’s Rob Dockery scored recorded 23 points on 8-of-11 (.727) shooting with five rebounds at George Washington … Justin Moore was consistent for Loyola, scoring 19 points and five assists in each game last week, with three steals in a win at Rhode Island …  Tyler Cochran averaged 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 steals over two game last week for Rhody Island … Will Johnston scored 20 points in each game in a split week for Richmond, including shooting .600 (6-of-10) from the field in a win at Fordham  … St. Bonaventure’s Frank Mitchell had 24 points on 10 made field goals with seven rebounds at VCU … Khaafiq Myers scored 12 points for Saint Joseph’s at Saint Louis with two rebounds and two assists … Robbie Avila led Saint Louis past Saint Joseph’s in the Billikens’ opener, with 20 points and eight assists , including 4-of-8 (.500) from 3-point range … VCU’s Lazar Djokovic averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in two wins, including a 23-poit outing versus St. Bonaventure where he shot .750 (9-for-12) from the field and an 18-point, 11-rebounds double-double at Duquesne … VCU freshman Nyk Lewis tallied 13 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Rams win over the Dukes.