FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University men's basketball freshman forward Emmanuel Kanga has been named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
 
It's the first time Kanga has garnered the weekly accolade and the first time a Patriot has earned the honor since Baraka Okojie on Jan. 29, 2024.
 
Kanga put together a strong week for George Mason while averaging 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and shooting 90 percent in two wins. 
 
The Libreville, Gabon, product, began the week by dropping a career-best 17 points (7-8 FG) to go along with eight rebounds in a 80-75 win at La Salle. He followed that up by tallying all eight of his points in the second half and grabbing four rebounds in a 61-50 win over Rhode Island. Overall, he pulled down 12 rebounds in 33 total minutes of action. 
 
On the season, he leads the Patriots in offensive rebounds (27) and is second in overall rebounding (72). He also is second on the team in blocks (11).
 
Kanga's offensive rebounding percentage of 22.6 percent and defensive percentage of 31.1 percent are tops in the A-10 by a significant margin.
 
Kanga and the Patriots return to action on Wednesday night when the Patriots play at Fordham. Tip-off in the Bronx is set for 7 p.m.