Stokes and Sword earn weekly SEC honors

Jarnell Stokes photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Tennessee’s Jarnell Stokes, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound sophomore forward from Memphis, Tenn., was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 12 points and 12.5 rebounds in wins at Auburn and over Missouri. Stokes was the only SEC player to average a double-double in league play this season, and his 14 double-doubles tied for the most in the conference and are the most by a Vol since Ian Lockhart had 14 during the 1989-90 season. Stokes posted double-doubles in four of Tennessee’s last six games. In the regular-season finale vs. Missouri – which entered the game ranked second nationally in rebounding and leading the SEC in rebounding defense – Stokes grabbed a game-high 13 boards, including six on the offensive glass.

Mississippi State’s Craig Sword, a 6-foot-3, 189-pound freshman guard from Montgomery, Ala., was named SEC Freshman of the Week after averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in games against South Carolina and Auburn. Sword made the game-winning free throws against Auburn to lift the Bulldogs to a 74-71 win in overtime.  He also had six assists, his second-highest output of the year.  His 48 steals rank fourth in the MSU freshman record books. His 20 points against South Carolina marked the second time this season he reached 20.