Week 7: GPAC Men's Basketball Players of the Week

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and Hauff Mid-America Sports are proud to announce the following men's basketball players-of-the-week for contests played December 9-15, 2024. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2024-2025 GPAC Players-of-the-Week and Players and Coaches-of-the-Year awards program. 

Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Basketball Players-of-the-Week

Offensive – Tristan Smith, Concordia University (Forward)

Tristan Smith of Concordia University is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports men's basketball offensive player-of-the-week.  Smith, a senior from Elizabeth, Colorado, helped lead Concordia to blowout wins over Hastings and Waldorf. For the week, he averaged 25.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. His 35 points at Waldorf represented a career high. On the season, Smith is averaging 20.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Defensive – Jesse Van Kalsbeek, Northwestern College (Forward)

Jesse Van Kalsbeek of Northwestern College is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports men's basketball defensive player-of-the-week.  Van Kalsbeek, a freshman from Orange City, Iowa, averaged 18.0 rebounds in two wins. In Wednesday's win at Morningside, he grabbed 20 rebounds, Northwestern's most since 2006. He also led the way in scoring in a home win over Doane with 23 points, picking up 16 rebounds as well. 33 of his 36 total rebounds this week came on the defensive glass, while he also collected two blocks and a steal.