Vols freshman guard Jaden Springer has been named the SEC Freshman Player of the Week for the second time this season following his performances against Mississippi State and then-ranked No. 15 Kansas last week. Springer was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Dec. 21.
It was Springer’s first games following a two-game hiatus due to an ankle injury he suffered in early January against Alabama. He averaged 11.0 points, 4.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the wins over the Bulldogs and Jayhawks that pushed Tennessee to 12-3 on the season, and 5-3 in conference play. The Vols are currently tied for second in the SEC with Florida, LSU and Missouri.
Springer returned injury to log nine points, four rebounds, a team-high five assists and a block in the 56-53 win over Mississippi State. He then made his second start of the year against Kansas, scoring 13 points, grabbing four rebounds, dishing out three assists and recording a steal, while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line in the win over Kansas.
The Charlotte, North Carolina native is the team’s third-leading scorer (10.2 ppg), despite averaging only 6.8 field goal attempts per game (.517). Tennessee is 13-0 this season when Springer has been fully healthy. The Vols have lost all three games this year in which Springer’s ankle has hampered him.
Tennessee will be back in action on Tuesday night against Ole Miss. The Vols and Rebels are scheduled to tipoff from Oxford at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
