LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced its Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Week. In the West, California's KJ McClurg (Athlete of the Week) and Pitt-Johnstown's Gavin Headings (Defensive Athlete) were selected. In the East, it was West Chester's Elijah Allen (Athlete) and Lock Haven's Justice Shoats (Defense) earning the honors.
Western Division Athlete of the Week
KJ McClurg
California
Guard
Sophomore
Morgantown, W. Va. / University
McClurg averaged 29.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, as the Vulcans posted a 2-1 mark in league play over the last week-plus. He shot an impressive 67.4 percent (29-of-43) from the floor, including a 52.6 clip (10-of-19) from beyond the arc, and converted 84.0 percent (21-of-25) from the free-throw line while playing 39.7 minutes per game. McClurg scored 33 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including five-of-eight from long range, and 8-of-11 from the charity stripe on Dec. 30 in an 88-76 win at Mansfield. The West Virginia native also collected four rebounds, three assists and two steals, as Cal extended its winning streak to 11 games – the program's first 11-0 start to a season in at least four decades. McClurg finished with 26 points behind 11-of-17 from the field, two rebounds and two assists on Wednesday in a 100-97 loss against West Chester. The 6-foot-3 sophomore then opened PSAC West play by tallying 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting and six rebounds in a 99-84 victory against No. 17 Gannon in a meeting of top-25 teams on Saturday.
Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Gavin Headings
Pitt-Johnstown
Forward
Freshman
Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington Central
Headings nearly averaged a double-double in the three games over the holiday period, with 10.7 rebounds, 9.7 points, and 1.3 blocks per game. He secured game-highs of 16 rebounds and 3 blocks--along with 15 points, an assist and a steal--in the 84-63 win at Kutztown on Dec. 30, then followed it up with 7 rebounds in just 12 minutes in a 94-77 victory over Shippensburg and nine rebounds, a block, a steal, and three assists in last Saturday's 64-57 loss to Mercyhurst.
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
Elijah Allen
West Chester
Guard
Junior
Dover, Del. / Dover
Allen had a big three-game stretch since returning from the holiday break, scoring 15 points or more in each of the last three games, including a 34-point outing at California on January 3 to lead West Chester to its first win over a top-10 team since November of the 2015-16 season. Allen returned from the break with a 28-point effort in a win over Clarion, shooting 9-of-19 from the field and 6-for-8 from three-point range to go along with three rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals. Against Cal, Allen scored the most points in a single game for WCU since Robbie Heath dropped 50 in the 2019-20 season to help lead West Chester to a 100-97 victory over No.9 and previously unbeaten Cal. In addition to his 34 points, Allen also came away with a steal, two rebounds, and two assists to help lead the Golden Rams. This performance is also tied with Millersville's Matt Dade for the third most points scored in a PSAC game this season. On Saturday at Lock Haven, Allen finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of steals to pace the Golden Rams in a close 74-71 loss. This 15-point effort was Allen’s first sub-20-point performance since December 18 against Mercyhurst when he scored 16 in a victory over the Lakers.
Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Justice Shoats
Lock Haven
Guard
Sophomore
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Holy Redeemer
Shoats was a menace on the defensive end to lead the Bald Eagles to a pair of come-from-behind victories in conference play last week. Shoats had six steals on Wednesday, before blocking seven shots on Saturday. In the 74-71 victory over West Chester on Saturday, Shoats tied the program record for blocks in a single game with seven, doing so from his point guard position. The sophomore guard also finished with two steals to go with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. The PSAC steals leader, Shoats sparked the Bald Eagles to a thrilling 66-65 come-from-behind victory over Clarion on Wednesday with his standout play on defense, coming away with six steals in the contest, marking his fourth game this season with at least five takeaways, and added four rebounds. He also blocked three shots and added eight rebounds and seven assists in a 73-66 win over Slippery Rock on Dec. 30. Lock Haven improved to 7-5 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC to move into a tie for second in the Eastern Conference with West Chester.