EMCC’s Jakorie Smith earns second MACJC Player of the Week hoops honor

SCOOBA – East Mississippi Community College freshman forward Jakorie Smith has collected his second MACJC Men's Basketball Player of the Week honor after averaging a double-double during a pair of EMCC road victories a week ago.

Smith, out of Raymond High School, averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds during the Lions' recent road wins over Holmes and Coahoma.  After beginning last week by posting his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds during Monday's 66-65 overtime victory over the Bulldogs in Goodman, Smith followed with eight points, 13 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in Thursday's 56-47 win over the Tigers in Clarksdale.

Most recently, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Smith opened the current week by posting his fourth 20-point outing of the year with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field (3-6 treys), along with grabbing six rebounds, during Monday's 71-66 home setback to Northwest Mississippi.    

Smith, who previously earned the conference's weekly men's hoops honor during Week 3 earlier this season, joins Lady Lion freshman forward Ja'Mia Hollings as two-time MACJC Player of the Week recipients for East Mississippi's basketball teams.   

For the season, Smith leads Coach Billy Begley's 15-6, 8-2 EMCC Lions in scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg), while shooting 49.6 percent overall from the field, 35.5 percent from three-point range and 75.3 percent from the charity stripe.

The East Mississippi basketball teams will travel to Fulton for a Monday road doubleheader against the Indians of Itawamba Community College.  A 5:30 p.m. women's game will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's contest at ICC's Davis Event Center.