Endicott’s Kinney, Guilford’s Giannopoulou are USBWA Division III National Players of the Week

Endicott’s Kinney, Guilford’s Giannopoulou are USBWA Division III National Players of the Week

 

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Elijah Kinney of Endicott College (Beverly, Mass.) and Anna Giannopoulou of Guilford College (Greensboro, N.C.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending December 14.

Kinney, a 6-7 junior forward from Nashville, Tenn., helped lead Endicott (receiving votes/D3hoops.com) to a pair of victories last week. On Tuesday, he scored a career-high 33 points (12-of-19 FT, 9-of-11 FT) and added 12 rebounds, two steals and five blocks in the Gulls’ 99-84 victory over St. Joseph. On Saturday, Kinney upped his career high to 35 points (15-of-24 FG, 5-of-5 FT) and completed another double-double with 12 rebounds to go with two assists, a steal and four blocks in a 90-82 win over Salem State. For the week, he averaged 34.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 4.5 blocks, while shooting 62.8 (27-of-43) from the field and 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the foul line. For his efforts, Kinney, who is fourth in NCAA Division III with 12.6 rpg and is tied for first with 10-double-doubles, was also named the Conference of New England (CNE) Player of the Week.

Giannopoulou, a 6-1 senior forward from Athens, Greece, posted a pair of double-doubles as Guilford defeated both of its opponents. In Thursday’s 70-52 victory over Pfeiffer, she finished with 19 points (7-of-9 FG, 5-of-5 FT), 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and four blocks. Two days later, Giannopoulou filled the stat sheet with 21 points (8-of-14 FG, 3-of-7 FT, 2-of-4 3FG), a career-high 16 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and three blocks in an 88-75 win vs. Johnson & Wales Charlotte. For the week, she averaged 20.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 3.5 blocks while shooting 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the field, 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the foul line and 50.0 percent (2-of-4) from behind the arc. For her efforts, Giannopoulou was also selected the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Week.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men’s and women’s Division III National Players of the Week. This is the 11th season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.

2025-26 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 9: Sam Grieger, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Nov. 16: Marcus Montagnino, Endicott College; Alexa Charles, Hunter College
• Week ending Nov. 23: Reph Stevenson, DePauw University; Elaina Beckett, McDaniel College
• Week ending Nov. 30: Quamir Ingram, Greensboro College; Caroline Peper, NYU
• Week ending Dec. 7: Joey Ramirez, Concordia University (Texas); Jaycie Christopher, University of Southern Maine
• Week ending Dec. 14: Elijah Kinney, Endicott College; Anna Giannopoulou, Guilford College