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NEW ORLEANS – When he arrived at Southern University at New Orleans, freshman forward Jamal Gibson knew what he wanted – to be the best player in the nation. Tuesday, Gibson proved just that, as he was named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.
The honor comes after a record-setting week against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference foes Oakwood (Ala.) and Fisk (Tenn.). In the game against Oakwood, Gibson set a program record (as of available records since the 2003-04 season) of 25 rebounds in a single game and followed up with a 24-rebound performance against Fisk. Gibson’s 25 rebounds helped the Knights tie a program record for most team rebounds in a single game (64). He averaged 25 points per game, 24.5 rebounds per game, shot 62.9 percent from the floor, and came two blocks short of a triple double. Gibson is now averaging a double-double this season, setting another program record of 17 double-doubles in one season.
“This is the first time in school history that we’ve had a men’s basketball national player of the week, so this is really exciting,” said Matthews. “This is a special accomplishment and exceptional achievement by an exceptional young man. I couldn’t be happier for whom it happened.”
Gibson has had his taste of weekly honors before winning NAIA Player of the Week. The New Orleans native has won GCAC Player of the Week six times, GCAC Newcomer of the Week six times, and swept the awards four times this year. With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the young man affectionately known as “Tall” shows no signs of slowing down.
“I feel great about winning national player of the week,” said Gibson. “I honestly wasn’t thinking about national player of the week because I was kind of caught up thinking about winning conference player of the week again. When Coach [Matthews] called me, I was just like, wow, this is crazy.”
The shock is not a surprise to Matthews who describes Gibson as the humblest young man he has coached. “He’s the one who calls and checks on me after games, picks up food from the dining hall for the team when we are on break, and always separates himself from anything negative.”
Matthews is building a family with the program, and Tall’s award has provided a push for him and his teammates. The excitement has also given the team more momentum heading into another week of conference play against Philander Smith (Ark.) and Wiley (Texas), who narrowly defeated the Knights earlier in the season in SUNO’s home gym “The Castle.”
Gibson remains focused on the task at hand – winning.
And he’s a silent leader. So much so that at a recent game, the opposition began chanting “overrated.” It did not take long for everyone in the gym to realize that Gibson is every bit of what his stats portray, and he rakes in the numbers with play often described as a silent attack.”
Gibson has a great eye for the game, high basketball IQ, and has, as he says, “that dog in him,” so no matter who the opponent is, he plays his best and leaves his all on the court.
“Everyone gets the same Tall,” Gibson said. “I don’t focus on who we play, I focus on how I play.”
Having never played organized basketball before, to see Tall’s game-by-game improvement is a sight to behold. SUNO alum and current assistant coach Kevin Dorsey provides individual and position workouts for the Knights, a tactic that is playing out on the court for Tall.
“This young man is very special,” said Matthews. “From being a father to a teammate, he is always the uplifter. He’s the considerate and thoughtful one who always wants to do for others. So, winning NAIA Player of the Week couldn’t have happened to a better person.”
The Knights continue a tough month of road games, traveling to Philander Smith, Wiley, crosstown rival Dillard, and University of the Virgin Islands before returning home on January 29 to play the top-ranked team in the GCAC Talladega.
Regardless of the competition and where the games are played, it is a certainty that Jamal “Tall” Gibson will confirm why he was named NAIA Player of the Week.
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