Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina redshirt sophomore forward Marcus Kell was today selected as the Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week following a pair of tight SoCon matchups on the road. Kell's career week included averaging a SoCon-leading 22.5 points and pulling down 9.5 rebounds per game for the Catamounts.
Kell is the first Catamount to receive the league honor since Vonterius Woolbright collected his SoCon-record ninth Player of the Week honor to close out the 2023-24 season. The conference office selects and announces the SoCon's weekly award winners from nominations submitted by each institution's communications or media relations personnel.
A product of Rock Hill, S.C., Kell started the week with a bang against Furman last Wednesday night, scoring a career-high 29 points in a tight overtime loss at its chromatic rival. He opened the game fast against the Paladins with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting with 3-of-4 triples in the opening 20 minutes before pouring in 15 points in the second half.
All told he set career highs in points (29), field goals made (8), 3-pointers (5), and free throws made (8), becoming the fourth WCU player to eclipse the 20-point plateau this season. Kell joined senior Bernard Pelote, junior Ice Emery, and redshirt sophomore Cord Stansberry to have crested 20 points mark with his 29 points marking the most by a catamount this season. The 29 points were also the second-highest mark by an individual for the week in the SoCon and the sixth different player to post 29 points in a game this season in league play.
Kell carried the momentum into Saturday's matchup at UNCG, recording 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and the third of his WCU career. He nearly tallied a double-double in the opening 20 minutes in Greensboro with nine points and seven rebounds to lead all players in the half.
In addition to leading the SoCon in scoring last week at 22.5 points per game, Kell also finished third in rebounds (9.5), third in 3-point field goal percentage (53.8%), was tied for fourth in threes (7) and tied for second in defensive rebounds per game (7.5).
In conference play, Kell is second on the WCU squad with a 12.0 point per game average with double figures seven times including five straight contests. Kell is shooting 42.3% (41-of-97) from the field and 34.6% (18-of-52) from beyond the arc.
Western Carolina returns home for their final two-game home swing of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday, Feb. 12, with a battle against mountain-rival ETSU. The matchup with the Bucs has a special 6 p.m. start time from Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. Wednesday's Black Out will feature a replica of WCU's black jerseys for the first 400 students, courtesy of The Everson.
Wednesday's game will be broadcast through the SoCon's NexStar agreement (check local listings) and simulcast on ESPN+(paid subscription required). Live audio coverage through the Catamount Sports Network is available online at CatamountSports.com and on 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC "The River" in Sylva. Live stats are also available via a link on CatamountSports.com.
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