Ohio point guards put the world on notice this weekend.
Ohio men’s basketball team point guard Jason Preston and Ohio women’s basketball team point guard CeCe Hooks each won the Mid-American Conference player of the week for their performances last week.
In three games, Preston averaged 21 points, 7.7 assists and seven rebounds. The highlight of his weekend came Friday against top-ten ranked Illinois. Against the Fighting Illini, Preston scored 31 points and paired it with eight assists and six rebounds
Aside from the MAC player of the week honors, Preston has also received national recognition for his inspiring story. Preston was a 6-foot player who averaged two points per game in high school. His journey into transforming into a player with NBA-level potential can be admired for young people around the world.
“We know who he (Preston) is and what he can do, but I think the nation saw today,“ Ohio coach Jeff Boals said postgame after Ohio’s 77-75 loss to Illinois. “It’s just a phenomenal story with his growth to where he was four or five years ago.”
Another inspiring performance came on the same day, this time by way of CeCe Hooks. Hooks led Ohio to an 86-85 victory over previously ranked Notre Dame with 32 points and eight rebounds. Hooks was no stranger to the MAC player of the week award last season, but her performance against a national powerhouse garnered her attention as well.
“She’s always pushing herself like she’s not doing enough,“ Erica Johnson said postgame about Hooks. “She just gets into that grind, that mode, and we feed on her.”
Hooks and Preston will be back in action this weekend when the women’s team faces Kent State on the road Saturday, and the men’s team welcomes Cleveland State to The Convo on Sunday for its home opener.
