Monday, November 21, 2011

Valparaiso junior forward Kevin Van Wijk (Hoofddorp, Netherlands/Katholieke Scholengemeenschap Hoofddorp) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week after averaging 20.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game over his three games last week, the league office announced Monday.

Van Wijk opened the week with an impressive effort against Holy Cross [Ind.], posting a double-double with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting and 10 rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.  The junior then registered his second consecutive double-double in the come-from-behind win over Akron, tallying 21 points and 10 rebounds, going 7-of-10 from the floor against the Zips.

Van Wijk sat out Saturday’s win over IU Kokomo before returning to the floor on Sunday with another strong performance in the victory over Duquesne.  Van Wijk came up just one rebound shy of his third straight double-double, finishing the game with a career-high 22 points and nine rebounds.  He averaged 21.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg in the two games he played he played that were part of the Valparaiso Subregional of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, earning All-Tournament Honors for his work.

Van Wijk and the rest of the Crusaders return to the court on Friday evening as Valpo faces off against #3/3 Ohio State, live on the Big Ten Network at 5:30 p.m.