Muhls’ Shermar Killen is Weeber/Langdon Team of Merrill Lynch Player of the Week
Once he worked his way into Muhlenberg’s starting lineup and realized how good he could be – and how much his teammates needed him – Shermar Killen has been one of the top players in the Berks Conference.
The 6-2 junior can do it all on the court: Score, rebound, handle, and defend. When he’s at the top of his game, as he was earlier this month in a 29-point performance against Reading High, he can carry his team.
“When he plays like that, he’s best player in the county,” said his coach, Matt Flowers, after the 87-74 double-overtime win over Reading. “His body is unmatched. When you’re that size and can handle the ball, it’s pretty good to see.”
Killen came up big in yet another key game last week with 20 points and nine rebounds in a key crossover victory against Exeter. That was part of a 57-point, 30-rebound week that propelled the Muhls to three straight wins and earned Killen earn Weeber/Langdon Team of Merrill Lynch honorshonors for the first time.
“Shermar continues to elevate (his game) day in and day out,” Flowers said. “He has become a great leader through his play and talk, whether at practice or at games. He has taken pride in being a valuable ballhandler, defender, and rebounder.
“He committed (in the offseason) to becoming stronger in the weight room, (to being stronger) mentally and he’s displaying more emotional intelligence on the court.”
All of that has helped the Muhls to an 11-6 record and a share of first place in Division I of the Berks Conference with Wilson.
Killen is averaging a team-best 16.5 points, seventh-highest in the league. He’s shooting 70.1 percent from the foul line and has made 68 free throws, third-most in the league and just three off the lead.
He has scored in double figures 14 straight games and has scored 20 or more six times in the Muhls’ last 10 games.
“My teammates are motivating me,” Killen said earlier this season. “They’re pushing me harder at practice and I’m taking that into the game.”
Killen scored 23 points and had 12 rebounds in Muhlenberg’s latest win, 74-42 over Harrisburg Saturday in the Geigle Classic.
Killen is the second Muhlenberg player selected for the award this season, following Alex Collado.
Players considered for Weeber/Langdon Team of Merrill Lynch Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coach or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also considered for Player of the Week:
- AJ Scheifly, Antietam
- Josh McKoy, Berks Catholic
- Donovan Gingrich, Conrad Weiser
- Kevin Saenz, Exeter
- Nate Herb, Fleetwood
- Ty Werley, Hamburg
- Jacob Zimmerman, Schuylkill Valley
- Danny Fleischood, Wyomissing
Players selected earlier this season:
- Dec. 11: Alex Collado, Muhlenberg
- Dec. 18: Madyx Gruber, Wilson
- Dec. 25: Nate Herb, Fleetwood
- Jan. 1: Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
- Jan. 8: Kevin Saenz, Exeter
- Jan. 15: Kingston McKoy, Berks Catholic
Players selected last season:
- Dec. 12: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Dec. 19: Mark Rajnath, Schuylkill Valley
- Dec. 26: Ryan Koch, Berks Catholic
- Jan. 2: Myles Grey, Reading High
- Jan 9: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Jan. 16: Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
- Jan. 23: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Jan. 30: Aiden Soumas, Fleetwood
- Feb. 6: Anthony Caccese, Exeter
- Feb. 13: Cooper Hohenadel, Schuylkill Valley
- Feb. 20: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Feb. 27: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- March 6: Anthony Caccese, Exeter
- March 13: Myles Grey, Reading High
- March 20: Kevin Saenz, Exeter
- March 27: Nick Chapman, Reading High
Players selected in 2021-22 season:
- Dec. 20: Matt Harley, Gov. Mifflin
- Dec. 27: Colin Payne, Exeter
- Jan. 3: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Jan. 10: Myles Grey, Reading High
- Jan. 17: Danny Turchi, Oley Valley
- Jan. 24: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Jan. 31: Julian O’Brien, Wyomissing
- Feb. 7: Xavier Goodman, Kutztown
- Feb. 14: Danny Turchi, Oley Valley
- Feb. 21: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Feb. 28: Hector Tiburcio, Antietam
- March 7: Joey Chapman, Reading High
