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 Offensive Athlete of the Week for the week of February 9-15, it was announced today by the league.
The honor marks the third time that Iafrate has been named the NEWMAC's top offensive weekly player after being tabbed for the weeks of November 3-9 and December 29 to January 4. In addition he was selected as the conference defensive athlete of the week for the weeks of December 1-7 and January 26 to February 1. He is the only player in the league to earn three offensive accolades this season and five overall. The recognition also marks the sixth time this season that a Lyon has been honored with senior forward Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, Mass.) being chosen as the league's top defender for the week of January 5-11.
Iafrate was incredibly consistent for Wheaton scoring 27 points in both games for an average of 27.0 points to go with 4.5 assists and a 58.1% (18-31) field goal percentage, including 53.8% (7-13) from three-point range. He also shot 78.6% (11-14) from the free throw line in addition to pulling down 5.0 rebounds and coming up with 3.0 steals per outing. The guard opened the week by scoring 27 points at Clark University, including his 1000th career point to make him the 17th player in school history to reach the mark. He added seven assists, seven rebounds, and four steals, while shooting 8-16 from the floor in Wheaton's 80-65 victory to clinch a NEWMAC playoff spot on February 11. Iafrate capped the week by netting 27 points on a tidy 10-15 shooting, including 4-6 from three-point range against Babson College on February 14 and handed out two assists to go with three boards and a pair of steals.
For the season, the La Salle Academy product has been one of the best all-around guards in the nation. He currently ranks 14th in NCAA Division III with 2.83 steals per game, while standing 56th in the country with 4.7 assists per outing. Iafrate ranks second in the NEWMAC with 19.1 points per game and is second in assists per game, while leading the conference in steals. His offense has been fueled by his uncanny ability to make shots, ranking 56th in the nation and eighth among guards with a 56.5% (156-276) clip that puts him second among NEWMAC leaders. In addition, he has dramatically raised his profile as one of the most dangerous outside shooters in the conference, knocking down 41.3% (38-92) of his tries to place him fifth in the league. Iafrate's ability to take care of the basketball has been crucial to the Lyons' success with a 1.8 assist/turnover ratio for the second-best figure in the NEWMAC. The Business major comes to play every night, netting double-digits in 20 of 23 games, including 11 contests with 20 or more points and six with 25-plus. Iafrate has shot 50% or better on 19 occasions, while handing out five or more assists a dozen times. In addition, the backcourt wizard has recorded multiple steals in 18 contests, including three or more 11 times. His 65 thefts are the third-most in a season at Wheaton, while his 108 assists rank as the sixth-most in a campaign for a Lyon. A starter in every match-up for Wheaton this season, Iafrate has also been dependable at the line, converting 72.6% (90-124) of his tries.
For his career, Iafrate has started 59 of 72 games, while scoring 1041 points for an average of 14.5 per game. He's established himself as one of the greatest shooters in school history, making 50.8% (375-738) of his shots to place third all-time, while ranking 10th in free throw prowess with a 75.5% (225-298) mark. Iafrate recently moved into second on the Lyons' career list for steals with 175 and is sixth with 278 assists.
Wheaton is currently 15-8 on the season, including 8-6 in league play. The Lyons clinched a home playoff spot last week and return to the hardwood on Wednesday, February 18 when they host Salve Regina University for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at Emerson Gymnasium.
