TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (December 11, 2018) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Polls for December 11 and Player of the Week selections for games played December 3-9. 

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released December 18. 

Follow Region 8 Athletics online throughout the season at www.theFCSAAsports.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

NJCAA Region 8 Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll
December 11, 2018 

The NJCAA Region 8 Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2018-19 record, previous ranking and total points in voting by Region 8 men’s basketball coaches, the Region 8 Men’s Basketball Chair and the FCSAA Scoreboard Coordinator.

Also receiving votes: Hillsborough 5, Polk State 4, Santa Fe 2, Gulf Coast State 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 10 Central Florida

NJCAA Region 8 Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll
December 11, 2018 

The NJCAA Region 8 Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2018-19 record, previous ranking and total points in voting by NJCAA Region 8 women’s basketball coaches, the NJCAA Region 8 Women’s Basketball Chair and the FCSAA Scoreboard Coordinator.

Also receiving votes: St. Petersburg 5, Hillsborough 1.

NJCAA Region 8 Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week

Malik Curry, Palm Beach State
Sophomore - Guard
New Castle, Del. 

• Averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 block in three games during the voting period
• Shot 51.9 percent (28-of-54) from the field, 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from the three-point line and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the free throw line
• Led the Panthers to a 2-1 week and wins in both games at the Florida College’s Shootout, including an 88-83 upset over NJCAA No. 18 Chipola
• After scoring 24 points (with eight rebounds and seven assists) vs. Polk State and 23 points (with eight rebounds and five assists) vs. Florida State College-Jacksonville, he closed the week with a season-high 31 points and had five rebounds and four steals to lead Palm Beach State to an 88-83 win over previously-unbeaten Chipola

D’Moi Hodge, State College of Florida
Freshman - Guard
Tortola, British V.I. 

• Averaged 23.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks in four games during the voting period
• Shot 53.4 percent (39-of-73) from the field, 33.3 percent (10-of-30) from the three-point line and 87.5 percent (7-of-8) from the free throw line
• Helped the Manatees to a split of four games during the week
• Had a double-double, 21 points and 13 rebounds, plus six assists in an 89-66 win over Santa Fe
• Electrified the Florida College’s Shootout with a 50-point effort (21-of-31 shooting) in a 110-101 loss to Miami Dade; had to leave game two of the Shootout after just seven minutes due to an injury

Other nominees: Kimani Binder, Indian River State; C.J. Roberts, Broward; Charles Manning, Florida SouthWestern; Daniel Jones, Pasco-Hernando State; Jalen Warren, Eastern Florida State; T.K. Smith, Polk State; D.J. Russell, Miami Dade

NJCAA Region 8 Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week

Blessing Ejiofor, Chipola
Sophomore – Center
Ebonyi, Nigeria 

• Averaged 21.0 points, 19.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in two games during the voting period
• Shot 59.4 percent (19-of-32) from the floor and hit four of her eight free throw attempts
• Recorded two monster games for Chipola, who remained unbeaten with wins over Central Georgia Tech and Florida State College-Jacksonville
• Against Central Georgia Tech, she had 21 points and 26 rebounds; added a 21-point, 12-rebound effort the next day against FSCJ

Leandra Echi, Northwest Florida State
Sophomore – Guard
Beacon, N.Y. 

• Averaged 9.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 13.0 assists and 2.5 steals in two games during the voting period
• Hit five of her 11 field goal attempts and 7-of-10 free throws
• Helped the top-ranked Raiders remain unbeaten with wins over ASA Miami and Gadsden
• Against ASA, she recorded a triple-double – 12 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists
• The next day, she threatened a second straight triple-double before finishing with six points, eight rebounds and 14 assists

Other nominees: Daja Woodard, Pensacola State; Tina Stephens, Florida SouthWestern; Brandi Washington, Pensacola State