by Jeda Hays, NAIA Sports Information

NAIA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Players of the Week

March 1, 2006

Kevin Smith of Lee University (Tenn.) as been named the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Kendra McCormick of John Brown University (Ark.) has been named the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending February 26, 2006.

Smith, a 6-foot-5 inch senior forward from Norfolk, Virginia, averaged 35 points as the Flames went 1-0 last week.  He scored 35 points and had eight rebounds in a 79-71 road victory against Berry College (Ga.).  Smith has now scored 638 points and grabbed 256 rebounds.  For the week, Smith shot 68% from the field (13-for-19) and 100% from the free throw line (9-for-9).  Lee is 21-9 overall.

McCormick, a 6-foot-1 inch senior post from Siloam Springs, Arkansas, averaged more than 22 points as the Golden Eagles went 3-0 on the week.  She scored 18 points and the game-winning basket in a 72-70 home win against then-#24 Oklahoma Baptist University.  McCormick then scored 23 points and had five rebounds in a 78-76 victory against then-#9 Oklahoma Christian University.  She also scored 27 points and had four rebounds in a 64-58 road win against Southern Nazarene University (Okla.).  McCormick shot 53% from the field (21-for-40) and 89% from the free throw line (24-for-27).  John Brown is 20-10 overall.

Other Division I Men's Nominees:

Clifton Clarida, Wayland Baptist University (Texas); Deywane Lee, Union University (Tenn.); Chris Cole, Lambuth University (Tenn.); Dwight Jones, Houston Baptist (Texas); Fredericko Payne, Louisiana State University-Shreveport; Jabari Saunders, Saint Xavier University (Ill.); Spencer Foster, Biola University (Calif.); Jonathan Burnett, Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho); Edward Wilson, Park University (Mo.); Mike Strobbe, McKendree College (Ill.)

Other Division I Women's Nominees:

Jessica Ezell, Martin Methodist College (Tenn.); Vanessa Villarreal, Texas A&M International University; Theresa Goodwin, Hannibal-LaGrange College (Mo.); Jennifer Nagy, University of the Cumberlands (Ky.); Shalee Fackrell, Westminster College (Utah); Kinga Rybarczyk, University of Mobile (Ala.); Jessica Richter, Vanguard University (Calif.); Jackie Heine, Saint Xavier University (Ill.); Jaime Dicks, Columbia College (S.C.)