Sam Somerhalder earns MIAA Athlete of the Week

This story was originally published on the Newman Athletics site, Jan. 27, 2025. Written by Newman Athletics.

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced a new men’s basketball Athlete of the Week, presented by Southern Bank. Sam Somerhalder was named Week 12’s MIAA Athlete of the Week for Newman’s first weekly honor of the 2024-25 season.

The Jets hosted Arkansas-Fort Smith on Jan. 24. Somerhalder hit double-double status against the Lions after scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds. Somerhalder also shot 8-9 from the field and dished out six assists. This performance by Somerhalder led the Jets to a season sweep over the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.

The Jets then faced Northeastern State University, where Somerhalder led the Jets offense with 20 points, going 9-12 from the field. He also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out six assists. The Jets held off the Riverhawks for the 76-73 win. Somerhalder leads the Jets in total points, points per game, total rebounds, rebounds per game, assists and minutes this season through 19 games played.

These two wins put the Jets at 5-5 in conference play and pushed them to a 12-7 overall record. The Jets remain at home this week to face Central Oklahoma and Rogers State.

Notable Performances:

Brayden Shorter, Washburn

Brayden Shorter led the Ichabods to a 2-0 record in Week 12 with a pair of road wins at Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western. The sophomore guard averaged 20 points, 7.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals per game as Washburn continued its 19-game win streak. In the 80-69 win over the Bearcats, Shorter recorded his first double-double as an Ichabod with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also added four assists and two steals against Northwest. In Washburn’s 85-52 win over the Griffons, Shorter hit four three-pointers and added five boards for a game-high 22 points. On the week, Shorter finished 14-of-27 from the floor (52%), landed 7-of-17 from deep (41 percent) and hit 5-of-7 at the line (71%).

Isreal Hart, Central Oklahoma

Izzy Hart led Central Oklahoma to back-to-back home wins in the MIAA last week as the Bronchos topped Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays in Edmond. Hart scored a career-high 30 points Thursday night against the Lopers for the fifth 30-point game in the league this season. He came back with 11 in the win over Fort Hays State on Saturday. Hart was 9-for-10 with 24 points at halftime in the Bronchos blowout win against Kearney. The senior guard shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24) for the week, including 50.0 percent from behind the three-point line (5-of-10), and he added a sparkling 10-for-11 performance at the free-throw line. Hart also contributed 5.0 rebounds per game, 3.0 steals per game, and 1.5 assists per game for the week.

Elijah Farr, Central Missouri

Elijah Farr helped the Mules to a 1-1 record last week with a 70-53 victory over Northwest Missouri inside Bearcat Arena after falling to Missouri Western in St. Joseph. Farr ended the two-game stretch with a pair of double-double performances with 35 points and 22 rebounds while adding five steals and two assists for good measure. In the victory over the Bearcats, Farr had a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds while adding a career-best five steals after having a 17-point and 11-board outing against the Griffons. The Kansas City, Mo. native was 15-of-27 from the field for a 55.6 shooting percentage and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.

Isaiah Atwater, Missouri Southern

Isaiah Atwater missed just one shot while leading Missouri Southern with 22 points in the Lions’ only contest of the week. The redshirt freshman hit 8-of-9 (89 percent) overall, which included a 6-of-6 showing from the three-point range. Atwater also led the Lions with five assists.

Also nominated:

Jordan Frison (Pittsburg State), Karyiek Dixon (Emporia State), Kaleb Hammeke (Fort Hays State), Ja’Bryant Hill (Nebraska Kearney), Ethan Blackmon (Northeastern State), Emorie Knox (Northwest Missouri), Jabryn Anderson (Rogers State).

2024-25 MIAA men’s basketball athletes of the week

WEEK ONE: Andrew Orr, Washburn
WEEK TWO: Trey Phipps, Northeastern State
WEEK THREE: Jacob Hanna, Washburn
WEEK FOUR: Kofi Hamilton, Rogers State
WEEK FIVE: Brayden Shorter, Washburn
WEEK EIGHT: Kaleb Hammeke, Fort Hays State
WEEK NINE: Ja’Bryant Hill, Nebraska Kearney
WEEK TEN: Ethan Blackmon, Northeastern State
WEEK ELEVEN: Kaleb Hammeke, Fort Hays State
WEEK TWELVE: Sam Somerhalder, Newman