PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The impact of the return of
Jeremiah Williams to Rutgers men's basketball is being noticed by the Big Ten Conference.
Williams was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after averaging 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists in RU's two victories at Maryland and over No. 11 Wisconsin last week.
Rutgers is 3-0 since the return of the redshirt junior who was granted eligibility by the Court of New Jersey on Friday, Feb. 2. Williams returned to action on Feb. 3
rd at the Crisler Center against Michigan and scored ten points in the win. Williams has started all three games since his return and scored double-digits in all three victories.
Williams is the third-ever player at Rutgers to win the Big Ten Player of the Week Award.
Cam Spencer won the award in January of 2023 and
Geo Baker won the award twice in the previous two seasons.
Williams hit the game-winning layup in the victory at College Park and led the Scarlet Knights with 14 points in the 56-53 win. Williams followed that up with a team-high of 18 points in his first-ever game at Jersey Mike's Arena as Rutgers routed No. 11 Wisconsin 78-56. Williams added seven assists and five rebounds.
Williams battled back from a torn Achilles he suffered at Iowa State. Williams had not played in game action since Feb. of 2022 when he started in the victory at Michigan marking 709 days since he suited up. Williams has been a huge part of the Rutgers defense that has stepped up in his return. In the past three victories, the Scarlet Knights' opponents are averaging 56 points per game.
