The College of Staten Island men’s basketball squad is riding high, enjoying a 14-game win streak after posting a 3-0 week, and the team was rewarded with a pair of weekly honors from the City University of New York Athletic Conference. CSI junior Javon Cox took home the conference’s Player of the Week honor, while frosh Frankie Schettino won the CUNYAC’s Rookie of the Week honor, his fifth of the season.
Cox, who has made 16 starts in 17 games this season, was a model of consistency this week, averaging and posting a double-double in each of CSI’s three contests a week ago. First, against non-conference Kean University, the swingman posted a 13-point, 10-rebound performance, adding three assists, three blocks, and three steals. Two days later, in a game against York College with first place in the CUNYAC standings on the line, Cox delivered a 10-point, 11-rebound effort, adding three more assists and steals in the 80-75 win. Finally, in CSI’s lop-sided win against Brooklyn College on Saturday, Cox posted an 18-point, 12-rebound afternoon in an abbreviated 28 minutes of work.
Cox is currently second on the team, averaging 13.9 points per contest, shooting a healthy 50.8% from the floor, adding a team-best 8.8 rebounds per contest. Cox also ranks second on the squad in assists (41), blocked shots (14) and steals (29). He has posted six double-doubles this season.
Freshman point guard Frankie Schettino is making a strong case for the CUNYAC’s Rookie of the Year honors, winning his fifth weekly award in eight tries. Schettino was strong again for the Dolphins making all three starts last week. Against Kean, Schettino scattered six points and six assists, then followed with a 14-point, four-assist effort against York College. Schettino only tallied five points against Brooklyn, but posted six assists and seven rebounds in the 86-58 win in 29 minutes.
Schettino easily leads the team in assists this season, posting a total of 116, good for 6.8 per contest, ranked fourth nationally among NCAA Division III players. Schettino is also averaging 11.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
CSI is 15-2 overall this season, and are ranked No. 32 nationally by D3hoops.com in their latest poll. The 14 straight wins include a perfect 9-0 run thus far through CUNYAC play. The team will tip-off this week on the road against City College of New York on Wednesday at 7pm before a Sports & Recreation Center showdown against Baruch College at 7:30pm on Friday.
