Duhon earns ‘Player of the Week’ honor
Lansingn Community College sophomore Nate Duhon was named NJCAA Division II "Player of the Week" Feb. 15. (Photo by Courtney Baker)
The NJCAA has named Lansing Community College sophomore point guard Nate Duhon the Division II Player of the Week for his play the week of Feb. 8 to 15.
A Lansing Sexton graduate and member of the Big Reds’ 2010 Class B Championship team, Duhon hit the game-winning shot and scored 31 points to lift the Stars to a 90-88 win over Muskegon Community College Feb. 8.
He also led with 32 points in the Stars’ 99-77 win over Ancilla College Feb 11.
The Stars are 11-1 in their last 12 games behind Duhon and were on a five-game win streak as of Feb. 21.
“I am so thankful for this honor. It’s truly a blessing,” Duhon said. “I have to give a lot of credit to my team. We have a championship mindset and it makes us play the way we do.”
Duhon has scored a total of 510 points for the Stars this season and leads the team in points per game average with 19.5. Duhon, who is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, has shot 42 percent from the floor and 72 percent from the free-throw line this year.
He has grabbed 147 rebounds and dished out 79 assists. All these numbers have been posted just 26 games into a sophomore season. His play has ignited a team that has been virtually unbeatable since returning from winter break.
“This is a well-deserved honor,” LCC Coach Mike Ingram said. “We’ve been winning a lot lately. It’s one thing to have big games in games that don’t count, but he has been having big games in games that we’ve needed wins in. “
LCC Athletic Director Scott Latham also spoke highly of Duhon. He said he thinks Duhon has a bright future in college athletics.
“He’s a hard-working kid who loves the game,” Latham said. “He’s making himself the player he needs to be in order to advance his education and his basketball career.”
Duhon, who signed his letter of intent with LCC in August of 2010, was near the middle of the pack in his freshman season, averaging 12.4 points per game. He scored 349 points last year, a mark he had well surpassed this year by mid-December.
Duhon credits his offseason workout and conditioning routine as a main factor in his success as a sophomore.
“I worked hard in the off-season to get bigger and more athletic,” Duhon said. “Some of my hard work is finally paying off.”
Duhon said he plans on continuing his college basketball career after his time is up at LCC. He is currently being recruited by several Division I schools across the Midwest, including a larger school in Nebraska, according to Latham.
“I know Coach Ingram will do a great job making sure I have an opportunity to play at the next level,” Duhon said. “Regardless of what happens, I’ll always have a passion for the game.”
Category: Other Featured, Sports
