Feb. 6, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn point guard Jared Harper was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after leading the Tigers to a season sweep of Alabama for the first time since 2009, the league office announced on Monday.
The Mableton, Ga., native averaged 17.5 points while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor and 70 percent on 7-of-10 3-pointers in Auburn’s 82-77 win in Tuscaloosa and against Tennessee.
He totaled 14 points, including 11 in the second half, in the win over Alabama while making 2-of-3 treys and 4-of-6 free throws. He took a charge and on the next possession, connected on a four-point play to give Auburn a 64-52 lead with 8:33 left in the game. He also had a rebound and an assist.
It marked Auburn’s fifth road win of the season, tying for the most in the SEC with No. 19 South Carolina and No. 24 Florida.
Against Tennessee, Harper scored a game-high 21 points on 5-of-7 3-pointers while also dishing out two assists with two rebounds and a steal.
This marks the second time for Harper to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors and the third time for the Tigers this season.
Harper also won the award on Dec. 26 after leading the Tigers to a pair of huge wins in three days in Connecticut vs. Oklahoma and at UConn. He had back-to-back career-highs while averaging 21.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals.
Austin Wiley earned the award on Jan. 23 after averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and a block in 22.5 minutes to lead Auburn to a pair of wins over Alabama and LSU.
At 15-8, Auburn is off to its best start since 2002-03 and plays host to Mississippi State on Tuesday at 8 pm CT on ESPNU.