Maryland basketball’s Jalen Smith, Shakira Austin named Big Ten Freshmen of the Week

Maryland basketball has been back in session for less than a week, and its freshmen have already impressed the conference.

Through two games each, forwards Jalen Smith and Shakira Austin were named the Big Ten Freshmen of the Week on the men’s and women’s sides, respectively. Smith averaged 15 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks in outings against Delaware and Navy. Meanwhile, Austin averaged 13 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in her first two games against Coppin State and Dayton.

Smith becomes the first male Terp to win the honor in his first week since eventual NBA No. 1 overall pick Joe Smith did so in 1993. Austin becomes the ninth woman in program history to win the honor in her first week.

Smith opened the 2018-19 campaign with a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double, becoming the first Maryland player to post a double-double in their debut since Buck Williams back in 1978. The former McDonald’s All-American would then follow it up with a 11-point, five-rebound outing, including his first made college three-pointer, against Navy.

Austin opened the season with 12 points, 21 rebounds and seven blocks in Maryland’s 93-36 decimation of Coppin State. She added 14 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks against the Flyers.

Both teams have started the season 2-0. The men’s team is back in action Monday night, welcoming North Carolina A&T to the Xfinity Center at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The women next play on the road, taking a short trip to play George Washington on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.