NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball standout Xavier Reaves was selected the BOXTOROW National Player of the Week for Feb. 20-26.
        Reaves, a 6-foot-6 graduate transfer forward from Burtonsville, Md., averaged 15 points and 9.3 rebounds in three games and shot 66.7 percent from the floor at the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament in Alexandria, La. Reaves was chosen tournament MVP after his 20 points and 10 rebounds against NAIA No. 17 and three-time defending champion LSU-Alexandria in a 79-63 XULA victory in the championship game Sunday.
        Reaves is XULA's third BOXTOROW recipient and the first since William Loyd in March 2020.
        The award emanates from DWCommunications, which produces the weekly national sports talk show From the Press Box to Press Row with Donal Ware. XULA head coach Alfred Williams will be one of Ware's guests this weekend. Ware's show majorly emphasizes HBCU sports.
        The Gold Rush (22-8) will play Tuesday in the first round of NAIA nationals.