Dec. 24, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball player Jaycee Carroll has been named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week it was announced by the league office on Monday. Carroll was also named the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week, which is voted on by a state media panel, for the period ending on Sunday, Dec. 23.

It is the first time this year and fourth time in his career Carroll has been named WAC Player of the Week. Carroll is the second Aggie this year to be honored by the league as senior forward Stephen DuCharme was named WAC Player of the Week on Nov. 26. Overall, it is the sixth time that a Utah State player has received the weekly honor from the league office in the past three years.

Carroll, a 6-2 All-American guard from Evanston, Wyo., (Evanston HS) was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Gossner Classic as he led Utah State to the tournament championship with an 87-65 win against Utah Valley and a 78-62 win against Northern Arizona. Against Utah Valley, Carroll scored a season-high 32 points to go along with six rebounds, as he was 11-of-16 from the field, 6-of-9 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. He also moved over the 2,000-point plateau and into second-place on USU's all-time scoring list against the Wolverines. Twenty-four hours later, Carroll scored a season-high 33 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals against Northern Arizona, as he was 12-of-15 from the field, 3-of-4 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Carroll, who set a new tournament record with 65 points, averaged 32.5 points and 5.5 rebounds during the two-day event, while shooting an unbelievable 74.2 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from three-point range. He was also a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.

On the season, Carroll is averaging 21.8 points and 5.9 rebounds and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field, 51.6 percent from three-point range and 94.5 percent from the free throw line. Thus far this year, he has scored in double-figures in all 14 Utah State games, and has nine 20-point games and three 30-point games. Overall, he ranks first in the WAC in scoring, first in free throw shooting and first in three-point shooting, and is seventh in overall shooting. Nationally, he ranks second in free throw shooting, 11th in three-point shooting and tied for 18th in scoring.

Utah State, who is 9-5 on the season and winners of four straight games, returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 29 when it hosts Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Nominees from other sports for USU Athlete of the Week included:

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - Senior guard Taylor Richards (West Valley City, Utah) helped Utah State record a 1-1 record last week, including an 81-60 victory against Saint Mary's at home Saturday afternoon. Against the Gaels, Richards scored 17 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and three steals as she was 8-of-15 from the field and 1-of-1 from three-point range. Earlier in the week, Richards posted four rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 71-49 home loss to Montana State.

2007-08 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 4 - Dana Peart, Soccer
Sept. 10 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball
Sept. 17 - Dana Peart, Soccer
Sept. 24 - Kevin Robinson, Football
Oct. 1 - Melissa Osterloh, Volleyball
Oct. 8 - Kevin Robinson, Football
Oct. 15 - Seth Wold, Cross Country
Oct. 22 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball
Oct. 29 - Seth Wold, Cross Country
Nov. 5 - Lauren Hansen, Soccer
Nov. 12 - Danielle Taylor, Volleyball
Nov. 19 - Rob Myers, Football
Nov. 26 - Stephen DuCharme, Men's Basketball
Dec. 3 - Jaycee Carroll, Men's Basketball
Dec. 10 - Danyelle Snelgro, Women's Basketball
Dec. 17 - Tai Wesley, Men's Basketball
Dec. 24 - Jaycee Carroll, Men's Basketball