USBWA news release

INDIANAPOLIS--The United States Basketball Writers Association has named Maine Maritime Academy senior center Curt Heinz the USBWA Division III National Player of the Week, as announced by National Committee Chair Jeffrey Bernstein on Tuesday. Heinz becomes the first Mariner in men's basketball program history to earn this national award, and is the only student-athlete, men's or women's, from a Maine-based institution so honored this season.

This comes on the heels of Heinz also receiving national recognition from Scoutware/D3hoops.com--only the fifth time in MMA school history that a basketball student-athlete has been honored by that organization, which is in its 28th year. (Maine Maritime has had three D3 National Team of the Week honorees on the women's side.) 

"We are very proud of Curt for being our first-ever USBWA and D3hoops Team of the Week honoree on a national scale. These are great accomplishments to add to his illustrious resume at MMA," said Cedric Gillette, who is in his first season at the MMA coaching helm. "Curt has earned these honors by working extremely hard and expanding his game in many ways this season. Everyone within the program sees the work he puts in on a daily basis and how unselfish of a teammate he is. His selflessness and dedication to winning were keys to our team having a successful week."

A senior co-captain from Stuttgart, Germany (Abington, Stuttgart High School), Heinz nearly averaged a triple-double while shooting just shy of 60 percent from the field to help MMA to a 3-0 conference week, picking up North Atlantic Conference Co-Player and Defensive Player of the Week awards a day earlier. In the Mariners' 85-68 win over Vermont State-Johnson on Jan. 6, Heinz recorded a double-double of 32 points (11-of-19 FG, 9-of-14 FT, 1-of-4 3FG) and 19 rebounds along with seven assists, one steal and five blocked shots. The next day, against Vermont State-Lyndon, he totaled 21 points (7-of-10 FG, 6-of-8 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks in a 70-58 victory. Then, on Friday at Lesley, Heinz recorded a triple-double, the 11th in NCAA Division III this season. He finished with 22 points (8-of-15 FG, 6-of-7 FT), 21 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks in the 82-56 victory. For the week, Heinz averaged 25.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 3.7 blocks while shooting 59.1 percent (26-of-44) from the field and 72.4 percent (21-of-29) from the foul line. Twenty-six of his 48 total rebounds came on the defensive end.

Maine Maritime returns to Smith Gymnasium to start a three-game homestand on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) against NAC opponent Thomas College.
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Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the 10th season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.

2024-25 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 10: Lucas Lesko, Wilkes University; Destiny Matthews, Concordia University (Texas)
• Week ending Nov. 17: Adam Brazil, Hampden-Sydney College; Mary Schluesner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Nov. 24: Octavio Brito, Keene State University; Natalie Gricius, Carroll University
• Week ending Dec. 1: Billy Ray Barnes III, Dean College; Korin Baker, Whitman College
• Week ending Dec. 8: Owen Liss, Norwich University; Kendall Harris, Hamilton College
• Week ending Dec. 15: Devon Lewis, California Lutheran University; Jordan Carpenter, Penn State Harrisburg
• Week ending Jan. 5: Felix Kloman, Babson College; Zoe Tomlinson, Colorado College
• Week ending Jan. 12: Curt Heinz, Maine Maritime Academy; Kacie Kranson, University of Scranton