Conference

Kyle Vinales, Central Connecticut
Detroit, MI / Phelps School
G
Freshman
6-1
180

Rookie sensation Kyle Vinales ended his first regular season the same way he started it – winning the NEC’s Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week award. It marks his eighth ROW award of the season, tying the all-time mark shared by Saint Francis’ (PA) Darshan Luckey, Rider’s Charles Smith and Monmouth’s Alex Blackwell. The Detroit, MI native averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 assists and became the first freshman in CCSU history to score over 500 points in a season as the Blue Devils defeated Mount St. Mary’s and second-place Wagner by an average of 16 points. In his team’s 78-63 decision over the Mount, Vinales scored 13 points and dished out a career-high 11 assists without committing a turnover. He was 3-for-4 from long distance. He then helped his seniors go out on top on Senior Day by netting 21 points, including 13 on a 13-for-14 performance from the line, as the Blue Devils topped the Seahawks, 78-61. The 6-1 guard proved clutch in the final minutes, hitting all six of his free throws to seal the win and earn CCSU its 10th home win of the season. Vinales leads all NCAA freshman and ranks third in the NEC in scoring with 18.0 ppg.