LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced its Men’s Basketball Athletes of the Week. In the West, California's Jordyn Buchanan (Athlete) and Edinboro's Evan Berger (Defensive) were selected. In the East, West Chester's Ruben Rodriguez Jr. (Athlete of the Week) and Shippensburg's Markus Frank (Defensive Athlete of the Week) were honored.
Western Division Athlete of the Week
Jordyn Buchanan
California
Guard
Sophomore
Pensacolo, Fla. / Robert A. Taft
Buchanan averaged 24.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, as California posted a pair of victories in PSAC Crossover action to start 2026. He shot 57.1 percent from the floor (16-of-28), including a .412 clip (7-of-17) from beyond the arc, while playing 34.5 minutes per game. Buchanan scored 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting in a 91-72 win over East Stroudsburg on Friday. The Florida native also collected six rebounds and six assists against the Warriors, which had won the previous six meetings in the series. The following day, Buchanan scored 22 points behind six three-pointers and added five rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 91-68 victory against Kutztown to extend the winning streak for the Vulcans to eight games.
Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Evan Berger
Edinboro
Guard
Sophomore
Jefferson Hills, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson
Berger averaged a double-double in a pair of Edinboro victories over Mansfield and Bloomsburg. He finished the week averaging 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game as well as chipping in with 17.0 points per game offensively. In the win over Mansfield he totaled 15 rebounds while also dishing out seven assists, blocking two shots, and grabbing four steals. Against the Huskies he added seven boards and a steal.
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
Ruben Rodriguez Jr.
West Chester
Guard
Junior
Reading, Pa. / Reading
Rodriguez Jr. averaged 27.5 points per game over the final two crossover games of the season, including a career-high 30 against Indiana (Pa.) on Friday to lead the Golden Rams to their first road win over the 25th-ranked Crimson Hawks since 2015. Against IUP, Rodriguez Jr. scored a team-high 30 and matched Anthony McCall’s 30 points last March for the most points scored in a single game in the last two seasons. The junior was 9-for-15 from the field, including two makes from beyond the arc, while also going 10-for-10 at the line. Additionally, he pulled down nine rebounds, dished out two assists and came away with a steal in the road victory. On Saturday at Seton Hill, Rodriguez Jr. scored 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field, including a 4-for-5 effort from three-point range along with six rebounds. For the week, Rodriguez Jr. shot .600 (6-of-10) from three-point range and 67.8 % from the field, including his 76.9 % effort on Saturday afternoon. The junior enters PSAC East play with 199 points, averaging 16.6 per game and has scored in double figures in every game but one (the season-opening loss to Fayetteville State).
Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Markus Frank
Shippensburg
Guard
Redshirt Junior
Sewickley, Pa. / Quaker Valley
Frank averaged 23.5 points, five rebounds and three steals in a pair of PSAC crossover road contests at Gannon and Clarion. The Redshirt-Junior contributed 20 first half points and 26 total to help the Raiders to their first league win at Clarion Saturday. Frank shot 12-of-22 (55%) from the field and also contributed seven rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. The day before, Frank poured in 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting (64%) and recorded three steals at No. 10 Gannon. Frank has posted double figures in every game this season and in 59 of his 68 career games. It was his third straight 20-point game and the 34th of his career.