Men's Basketball Player Wes Cole Named Rookie of the Week

After nearly leading the Hawks back from a 17-point deficit against Niagara on Saturday, University of Hartford freshman Wes Cole grabbed his first career America East Rookie of the Week honor for the week ending Dec. 11 as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. The award is the first weekly honor for a Hawks’ men’s basketball this season and is Hartford’s first rookie of the week accolade since Charles White earned the honor on Jan. 11, 2010.

Cole came off of Hartford’s bench to average 14.5 points per game and 2.0 steals per game last week in a pair of single-digit losses to Quinnipiac and Niagara. Against Niagara on Saturday, the Woodlands, Texas, native heated things up for the Hawks when he drained eight three-pointers, seven of which came in the second half, to finish with a game-best 26 points and help his team chip away at a 17-point, second-half deficit.

Cole’s eight treys were just one shy of matching a program record, which was set by Joe Zeglinski against New Hampshire in the 2008 campaign. A freshman guard, Cole leads the America East with 25 made three-pointers and with 10.0 points per game, he ranks second on the Hawks and 18th among the league scoring leaders.

The Hawks break for 11 days for final exams and return to the hardwood at Marist on Wed., Dec. 21.