PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference has announced its men's basketball weekly award winners for the week ending Jan. 4.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KABRIEN GOSS • Montclair State University
Sophomore • Guard • Trenton, NJ/Roman Catholic
Goss is named NJAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week after a stellar two-game stretch that propelled Montclair State to a 12-0 start. The sophomore guard averaged 24.0 points and 6.0 assists per game while shooting an elite 56% from the field, 55% from 3-point range, and 88% from the free-throw line. Goss created scoring opportunities throughout the week with his efficient shooting and playmaking, highlighted by a career-high 28 points along with six assists, three rebounds, and two steals with zero turnovers in a 92-87 victory over Saint Joseph (CT) on New Year's Eve. He opened the 2026 calendar year with 20 points on 60% shooting – including 5-for-7 (71%) from long range – along with six assists, three boards, and a steal in a 100-89 win over Albertus Magnus. Goss leads the NJAC in both assists (6.0 apg) and 3-point percentage (45.5%), is third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), fourth in made threes (2.5/game), and adds 13.7 points per outing.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
PHIL BROWN JR. • Kean University
Senior • Forward • Hillside, NJ/Hudson Catholic
Brown Jr. becomes the second Kean player to earn NJAC Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week honors after averaging 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game during a 1-1 week. The senior forward controlled the paint with 20 total rebounds and four blocks while adding two steals and 31 points across the two contests. Brown Jr. tallied 11 rebounds and four blocks in a 74-69 victory over Ithaca, then followed with nine rebounds in a narrow loss to Stevens. Brown currently leads the NJAC in blocks (1.7 bpg), and ranks third in rebounding (8.3 rpg) and third in free throw percentage (83.3%), while chipping in 12.8 points per game.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
CRISTIAN NICHOLSON • Montclair State University
Freshman • Guard • Mine Hill, NJ/Morris Catholic
Nicholson is tabbed NJAC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week for the third straight week and fourth time overall after a career week that propelled Montclair State to a 2-0 record and a 12-0 start to the season. The freshman guard averaged 22.0 points, 6.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field and 71% from 3-point range. Nicholson posted a career-high 27 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and added five assists and three steals in a 100-89 victory over Albertus Magnus. On New Year’s Eve, he dished eight assists and grabbed two steals and three rebounds while scoring 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting. The rookie leads the NJAC with an incredible 3.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. He also leads all conference rookies and is second in the NJAC only to teammate Kabrien Goss with 5.3 assists per game. He also ranks third in the NJAC in steals (2.2 spg) and scores 12.3 points per game.