CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – SMU senior forward Matt Cross was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Pitt guard Brandin Cummings earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors, as announced Monday.
ACC men’s basketball weekly honors are nominated by the respective schools and determined by a vote of an 18-member media panel.
Cross scored a team-high 16 points and pulled down a career-high tying 16 rebounds in SMU's 74-64 win over LSU on Saturday, December 14, in a neutral-site matchup in Frisco, Texas, as the Mustangs handed LSU just its second loss of the season. Seven of Cross’ rebounds came on the offensive glass. The native of Beverly, Massachusetts, also recorded pair of assists, a steal and a block to go with a team-best plus-14 rating in 35 minutes. His total of 16 rebounds is tied for the fourth most by an ACC player this season. SMU has won five straight games and is now 9-2 on the season.
Cummings came off the bench to score a season-best 30 points in Pitt’s 96-56 win over Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, December 11. He recorded the sixth 30-point game by as Pitt freshman, while also setting a school freshman record for points off the bench. A native of Midland, Pennsylvania, Cummings was 10-of-13 from the field, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range, and 4-of-6 from the foul line. His six 3-point field goals is tied for the third most in a game by a Pitt freshman. Cummings surpassed his career high with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and 4-of-6 from the foul line, in the opening half. He scored the first 12 points of the game for the Panthers on three free throws and a trio of 3-point field goals.
2024-25 ACC Players of the Week
Nov. 11 – Jamir Watkins, Sr., G, Florida State; Nijel Pack, Gr., G, Miami
Nov. 18 – Maxime Raynaud, Sr., C, Stanford
Nov. 25 – Cooper Flagg, Fr., G/F, Duke
Dec. 2 – Chucky Hepburn, Sr., G, Louisville
Dec. 9 – Ian Schieffelin, Sr., F, Clemson
Dec. 16 – Matt Cross, Sr., F, SMU
2024-25 ACC Rookie of the Week
Nov. 11 – Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke
Nov. 18 – Cooper Flagg, G/F, Duke
Nov. 25 – Cooper Flagg, G/F, Duke
Dec. 2 – Jeremiah Wilkinson, G, Cal; Donnie Freeman, F, Syracuse
Dec. 9 – Cooper Flagg, G/F, Duke
Dec. 16 – Brandin Cummings, G, Pitt