INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Darren Rubin of New York University (New York, N.Y.) and Mary Schleusner of Washington & Lee University (Lexington, Va.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending January 25.
Rubin, a 6-2 graduate guard from Dayton, Ohio, helped lead No. 22 (D3hoops.com) NYU to a pair of road victories against ranked opponents. He hit the game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer in the Violets’ 77-76 win over then-No. 18 Washington University in St. Louis on Friday night. He scored 10 of his 28 points (10-of-20 FG, 6-of-7 FT, 2-of-4 3FG) over the game’s last 46 seconds as NYU ended on a 10-3 run. Rubin added four rebounds and six assists in the contest. Then, in Sunday’s 89-68 victory over then-No.2 University of Chicago, Rubin finished with 17 points (5-of-12 FG, 4-of-4 FT, 3-of-5 3FG), five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. For the week, he averaged 22.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 46.9 percent (15-of-32) from the field, 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the foul line and 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from three-point range. For his efforts, Rubin was also named the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Division II/III Player of the Week and the University Athletic Association (UAA) Athlete of the Week.
Schleusner, a 6-1 senior center from Charlotte, N.C., earns the award for the third time this season after posting a pair of 20-20 games as No. 5 (D3hoops.com/WBCA) Washington & Lee won both of its conference match-ups. She finished with 22 points (10-of-23 FG, 2-of-3 FT), 21 rebounds, an assist, two steals, and three blocks in the Generals’ 63-57 win over Bridgewater (RV, D3hoops.com) on Wednesday. Schleusner scored 29 points (10-of-17 FG, 9-of-12 FT), including a pair of free throws with one second remaining, in her team’s 81-78 victory at Guliford on Friday. She added 28 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and three blocks in the contest. For the week, Schleusner averaged 25.5 points, 24.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks while shooting 50.0 percent (20-of-40) from the field and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the foul line. For her efforts, Schleusner, who is now Division III’s all-time leading rebounder (1,741), was also selected the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the 11th 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.
2025-26 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 9: Sam Grieger, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Nov. 16: Marcus Montagnino, Endicott College; Alexa Charles, Hunter College
• Week ending Nov. 23: Reph Stevenson, DePauw University; Elaina Beckett, McDaniel College
• Week ending Nov. 30: Quamir Ingram, Greensboro College; Caroline Peper, NYU
• Week ending Dec. 7: Joey Ramirez, Concordia University (Texas); Jaycie Christopher, University of Southern Maine
• Week ending Dec. 14: Elijah Kinney, Endicott College; Anna Giannopoulou, Guilford College
• Week ending Jan. 4: Scott Gyimesi, Tufts University; Elyse Warren, Millsaps College
• Week ending Jan. 11: Lamar Lovelace, Keuka College; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Jan. 18: Fletcher Bigham, Sewanee, The University of the South; Emma Shinney, Endicott College
• Week ending Jan. 25: Darren Rubin, New York University; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University