VSU's Tristan Steele Named GSC Player of the Week

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Valdosta State junior guard Tristan Steele has been named the Gulf South Conference East Division Player of the Week, according to an announcement made by the league office on Wednesday.

Steele earned the honor after averaging 23.7 points while leading VSU to a 2-1 record in its opening three games of the 2010-11 season. He also tallied 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field on the week. The junior was particularly successful from beyond the three-point line as he connected on 18-of-35 trifectas, a 51.4 percent success rate.

Steele made an immediate impact on the Valdosta State squad as he has led the Blazers in scoring in each of the three games last week. He opened the year by scoring 22 points while dishing out six assists in an 85-79 opening game loss against Saint Leo. The Savannah, Ga. native then connected on eight-of-14 three-pointers while scoring a game-high 26 points as Valdosta State upset No. 17 Rollins 93-83 a night later. He closed out the week with a game-high 23 points in an 89-61 blowout of Fort Valley State on Tuesday.

Steele and the rest of the Blazers return to action Monday night at 7:30 p.m. when they host Southern Wesleyan in The Complex.