Cantrell Named NJCAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Freshman adds national honor to recent Region XX Tourney MVP accolade
ARNOLD, MD -- Freshman Michael Cantrell was named the NJCAA Men's Basketball Division III Player of the Week for play ending Sunday, February 23, 2020, it was announced Wednesday. Cantrell, who also earned the Region XX Tournament MVP, led the third seed Anne Arundel Community College to an 84-79 win over top seed and 15th ranked Prince George's Community College on Sunday for the Riverhawks' first Region XX title since 2013.
Cantrell scored 40 points to go with 19 rebounds, 11 steals, 10 assists, and three blocks in the tournament. He shot 53.8% over the two tournament games, knocking down 14 of 26 field goals. In addition, he was 50% from three-point range (4-8) and sank eight of nine free throws (88/9%).
Cantrell has started 18 of 21 games, missing a four-game stretch in early 2020 with an injury. He's scored in double digits 13 times, recording a career-best 23 against CCAC in the Region XX semifinals. Cantrell posted two double-doubles during the year, most recently in the Region XX championship game with 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
But Cantrell's stat line doesn't end there. He leads the team and ranks eighth in Region XX with 3.1 assists per game, dishing a career-high seven against CCAC in the Region XX semifinals. Defensively he leads the Riverhawks and ranks third in Region XX with 2.2 steals per game, twice posting six-steal efforts, most recently in the Region XX title game.
Cantrell and the Riverhawks travel to the Mid-Atlantic District Championship to face Sandhills Community College, the top-ranked team in the nation with a 30-2 record. AACC fell to the Flyers in last year's District semifinals.