Boys Basketball – Week 4 Player of the Week Winner: Vinnie Deck, Southern

Week 4 Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey Player of the Week

Vinnie Deck, Southern

Southern has played most of the season without returning leading scorer Jake DuBois (ankle) and in his absence, Deck has emerged as a reliable perimeter scoring option. Last week, Deck led Southern to wins over Toms River East and Jackson Memorial, scoring 17 points and six steals in the win over the Raiders and putting up 24 points and five steals in the win over Jaguars.

Deck is part of a junior class that has stepped up to produce around senior Thomas Foster in the absence of DuBois, another senior, and has Southern showing showing signs of moving back up the ranks in A South. During Southern's 6-6 start to the season, Deck is tied with Foster for a team-best 13.8 points per game and his 2.58 steals per game is the eighth-highest total in the conference.

This week's Player of the Week vote was both the closest and most voted-upon contest of the four so far this season. Deck won the honor with 41.7 percent of the more than 20,000 votes cast, beating out Lakewood senior Kevin Dent, who checked in at 38.3 percent.

Marlboro junior Dylan Kaufman drew more than 2,000 votes and Rumson-Fair Haven senior big man Elijah McAllister also cracked the 1,000-vote plateau.

Past 2018 Player of the Week Winners

Week 3: Chris Mikos, St. John Vianney

Week 2: Mark Mogarte, Toms River North

Week 1: Carl Swensen, Lacey