PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Immaculata University senior forward Jeff DeSantis received the Sam Cozen Player of the Week Award from the Philadelphia Area Small Colleges Basketball Coaches Association at its luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 23, held at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
The senior captain has started 24 of 26 contests and is averaging 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The Royersford, Pa., native leads the team with 29 blocks. He is one of Immaculata’s best shooters at 49.6 percent (61-for-123) from the field this season, third highest one the team. He is also averaging 1.1 assists and 0.6 steals per outing.
The Sam Cozen Player of the Week Award is named in honor of legendary Drexel and Overbrook High head men's basketball coach Sam Cozen. The Philadelphia Area Small College Coaches Association honors area small college basketball players at its luncheons, not only for the performance on the court, but for their leadership and their academic success, ideals emphasized by the late Cozen. While at Drexel, Cozen boasted a 213-94 record, while winning 11 Middle Atlantic Conference Championships and making four NCAA appearances. Cozen's college coaching career overlapped for two years with his tenure at Overbrook (1947-54), where he captured five Philadelphia Public League championships while directing legendary players such as Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Lear.
Fourth-seed Immaculata (15-11) travels to top-seed Cabrini College on Wednesday, Feb. 24 for the semifinals of the CSAC Tournament. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the conference championship game.