Gafford named Co-SEC Player of the Week

Arkansas Alabama Saturday, March 9, 2019, during the Razorbacks' 82-70 win in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Visit nwadg.com/photos to see more photographs from the game.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas sophomore forward Daniel Gafford was named Co-SEC Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday morning.

Gafford, in the Razorbacks' wins at Vanderbilt and against Alabama last week, averaged 24.5 points on 19-of-28 shooting, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game. He scored a game-high 20 points against the Commodores then finished with 29 points and a career-high 16 rebounds on Saturday.

"The guy's a pro. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say that while he’s in college, but I guess I would probably know one when I see it," Crimson Tide coach Avery Johnson said Saturday. "He’s long, he’s athletic. He does a great job of picking and rolling. Unbelievable hands. So he’s a handful.

"That’s why he’s an All-SEC player and he’ll have a career playing basketball."

Gafford shared the honor with South Carolina forward Chris Silva, who averaged 23 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in the Gamecocks' wins over Texas A&M and Georgia.

This is Gafford's second SEC Player of the Week honor of the season. He also received the award in November after scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in Arkansas' home win over Indiana.

The Razorbacks outscored Vanderbilt and Alabama by 54 points with Gafford on the floor last week.