Jan. 23, 2008

ASTON, Pa.--Neumann College guard DJ Fritz (Waldorf, Md. /Bishop MacNamara) received the Sam Cozen Player of the Week Award from the Philadelphia Small College Basketball Coaches Association at its luncheon on January 22.

This season, Fritz is averaging 11.8 points and 2.6 assists per-game. He is a PAC Honorable Mention honoree and is one of the Knights' top leaders in points and assists.

"DJ is the definition of a student athlete," stated Head Coach Mike Gallagher.  "He plays both point and off guard positions and is our defensive stopper. He demonstrates my philosophy of playing hard, playing smart and playing with class. As a team captain he is a true leader and underclassmen eagerly take his direction."

The Cozen Award is named in honor of legendary Drexel and Overbrook High head men's basketball coach Sam Cozen. While at Drexel, Cozen boasted a 213-94 record, while winning 11 Middle Atlantic Conference Championships and making four NCAA appearances.  Cozen's college coaching career overlapped for two years with his tenure at Overbrook (1947-54), where he captured five Philadelphia Public League championships while directing legendary players such as Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Lear.

Neumann (5-9 overall, 3-3 PAC) will play a pair of crucial Centennial games this week, traveling to Immaculata University Thursday, Jan. 24 for a 7:00 p.m. contest before returning home to Bruder Gymnasium to face Gwynedd Mercy College on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 4:00 p.m.