Conference USA has been a battle this season, with 10 teams within four games of each other. Right now, North Texas holds the top spot but Western Kentucky has been right behind and currently holds the tie-breaker with a win earlier in the season.
Many might have written off the Hilltoppers, especially after big Charles Bassey suffered a tibial plateau fracture against Arkansas causing him to miss the rest of the season. Bassey was averaging over 15 points and nine rebounds per game, a critical piece for the team’s offense this season.
Despite the loss though, Western Kentucky sits at 8-3 in the conference and much of that has been due to the play of junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth. After two straight losses vs. non-conference opponents after Bassey's injury, Hollingsworth stepped his game up. Now averaging 15.4 points per game this season, Hollingsworth has scored double-digits in his last eight games and has increased his points production to nearly 21 points during that span.
Playing efficient basketball, getting to the rim, and converting at the free-throw line, Hollingsworth has certainly hit another level this season.
Hollingsworth has been a focal point for the Hilltoppers since his freshmen year, averaging double-figures each season.
But this season, he has been even more aggressive and not settling for too many perimeter shots from behind the arc (shooting 48 percent this season). Watching his production this season continues to bring us back to when Phenom Hoops watched him with the M.A.T.T.S. Mustangs at the Southern Jam in Greensboro back in 2016.
He displayed that same arsenal in his game back then, consistently getting buckets on multiple levels. Hollingsworth is doing much of the same over his time at Western Kentucky but is now showing what a true leader does when his team needs him. That is why the Hilltoppers certainly are still in the race for a C-USA Championship this season.
Southern Jam 2016 Pieces:
Article 1: https://phenomhoopreport.com/todays-five-to-know-southern-jam-live-day-2-proehlific-park/
Article 2: https://phenomhoopreport.com/southern-jam-live-stock-boosters/