MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Wheaton College (Mass.) men's basketball player Dimetri Iafrate (Johnston, R.I.) was named the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Defensive Athlete of the Week for the week of December 1-7, it was announced today by the league.
The honor marks the second time this season that Iafrate has been cited by the NEWMAC. He was also chosen as the NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Week for the week of November 3-9. Overall, it's his fourth weekly conference honor after being named the top weekly defender twice during the 2023-24 campaign.
The junior averaged 3.5 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game in a two-game week for the Lyons. In addition, the guard scored 24.0 points per game to go with 5.5 assists and a gaudy 65.4% (17-26) field goal percentage to go with a sparkling 92.3% (12-13) free throw mark. The La Salle Academy product began the week by scoring a career-high 27 points on 10-14 from the floor to go with five assists, six rebounds and a pair of steals in a victory over visiting Springfield College to open the NEWMAC slate on December 3. Iafrate capped the week with 21 points on 7-12 from the field and 6-6 from the line, a game-high six assists and five steals to go with a rebound at Emerson College on December 6.
For the season, the Business major ranks fourth in the conference with 16.7 points per game, while leading the league with 2.6 steals per game and an impressive 57.1% (56-98) field goal percentage. Iafrate places second with 4.8 assists and is one of the best decision makers in the NEWMAC with a 2.23 assist/turnover ratio for the second-best mark in the conference. The Ocean State native has been good at the free throw line as well, making 74.4% (29-39) of his tries to stand 18th among NEWMAC leaders. Iafrate has netted 14 or more points in all but two games, while handing out five or more assists on five occasions, including a season-high of eight to go with 26 points and a career-best seven steals against Wentworth Institute of Technology to open the season on November 7. The tenacious defender has multiple steals in six of nine contests and has pulled down six or more rebounds four times. His shooting has been extremely consistent, hitting on 50% or better of his shots in all but two games, including five efforts with 63% or better.
Iafrate has 751 career points in 58 games, while making 45 starts and has averaged 12.9 points per outing. He has 213 career assists for a rate of 3.7 per game to go with 4.7 rebounds and 133 steals for 2.3 thefts per contest. The backcourt player also has 28 lifetime blocks in Norton and is a 77% (164-213) career free throw shooter to go with a 49.1% (275-560) field goal mark. Iafrate was rewarded at the end of last season with a spot on the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team.
Wheaton is currently 6-3 on the season, including 1-1 in conference play. The Lyons return to the hardwood on Sunday, December 28 when they play Middlebury College at 3:00 p.m. on the first day of the Dr. Carol V. De Costa/Go 4 the Goal Tournament hosted by Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, N.Y.
