MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The SSAC announced the 2025-26 SSAC Men’s Basketball Players of the Week. Qualen Pettus of Dalton State was named SSAC Men’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week and Omarion Smith of Dalton State was named SSAC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week. The awards are for the week of Feb. 2-8.
Offensive: Qualen Pettus (Dalton State – SR – G/F – Fort Wayne, Ind.)
- This is his second-career weekly honor and first offensive award
- Pettus averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game, while shooting 59% from the field
- The week was highlighted by a double of 30 points and 10 boards in a win at UT Southern where he knocked down 12-of-19 shots
Defensive: Omarion Smith (Dalton State – SR – F – Atlanta, Ga.)
- This is his sixth-career weekly defensive honor
- In a pair of conference wins, Smith totaled 10 blocks, including eight blocks at UT Southern
- He also averaged seven rebounds per game and 12.5 points per contest
Previous Winners (Offensive, Defensive)
Week 1: KJ Rogers (Faulkner), KJ Rogers (Faulkner)
Week 2: KJ Rogers (Faulkner), Gil Gonzalez (Brewton-Parker)
Week 3: Kameron Johnson (Loyola), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)
Week 4: Zachary Lee (Loyola), Esrael Yant (Blue Mountain)
Week 5: Gabriel Rivera (Faulkner), Kosta Bjelicic (Loyola)
Week 6: Ja’Ron Briggs (Dalton State), KJ Rogers (Faulkner)
Week 7: Kenton Steele (Point), Gil Gonzalez (Brewton-Parker Christian)
Week 8: Antonio Cochran (UT Southern), Josh Baugher (Life)
Week 9: Jamar Jenkins (William Carey), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)
Week 10: Tommy Tisdale III (Brewton-Parker), Jonathan Goldson (Thomas)
Week 11: D’Andre Jefferson (Point), Gil Gonzalez (Brewton-Parker)
Week 12: Malik Franklin (William Carey), Jaylen Peters (Loyola)
Week 13: Kameron Johnson (Loyola), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)
Week 14: Kenton Steele (Point), Makeem Roberts (William Carey)