Montevallo forward Derek Moore was named the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball National Player of the Week as presented by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Division II Conference Information Directors Association (D2CIDA) for the week of Jan. 12-18.

Moore had a record-setting performance for the Falcons (11-6) during a week in which he averaged 36.5 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal per game in two contests. After going seven-of-eight from the field as part of a 22-point night while adding six rebounds and two assists in a 101-83 loss at Valdosta State, he exploded for a school record 51 points in a 97-87 win at West Florida 97-87 Saturday to end UWF’s nine-game winning streak. 

Not only were the 51 points a Montevallo single-game record, so were the 20 made free throws as he was 20-of-22 at the charity stripe. He scored 29 of his 51 points – the most by any player in NCAA Division II this season – in the second half to help his team overcome a two-point halftime deficit. He finished 15-of-25 from the field in the game and was 22-of-33 (66.7 percent) for week, while tacking on eight rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in the UWF contest. He was selected as Player of the Week in the Gulf South Conference. 

Moore is the GSC’s first NABC/D2CIDA National Player of Week winner this season and third all-time. The Montevallo forward is also the school’s first-ever recipient. The last Falcon to garner national weekly recognition was Braxton Bertolette on February 28, 2023.

The co-branded NABC/D2CIDA national award program is in its second second and is administered by D2CIDA and supported by the NABC. Click here for a complete list of this season's weekly award winners.