More and more people are starting to notice JaKarr Sampson.

On Monday, the St. John's freshman forward was honored as the Big East's Rookie of the Week for a league-leading sixth time. He is moving closer to inevitably being named the conference's Rookie of the Year next month.

Sampson averaged 19.5 points and six rebounds, and shot a combined 17-29 (58.6%), in the Red Storm's two games last week. He scored 18 points in the Johnnies' win over Connecticut on Wednesday, and dropped 21 points (one shy of his career high, which came against San Francisco) in the loss at Syracuse on Sunday.

In Big East play, the freshman is 6th in the Big East in points with 179 in total, tops among freshmen. Sampson averages 14.9 points per game (first among freshmen) and rebounds with 6.2 per contest, second among freshmen to Pittsburgh's Steven Adams who averages 6.8. With each game against league competition, Sampson seems to look more comfortable.

Providence's Kadeem Batts was named Big East Player of the Week, after a 25 point/ 9 rebound performance in a win over Cincinnati.

Also honored were Connecticut's Shabazz Napier, Villanova's Darrun Hilliard, Syracuse's C.J. Fair, Georgetown forward Chane Behanan, and Georgetown's Otto Porter.

Sampson's Johnnies will hit the hardwood once again on Thursday night in Louisville against the formidable Cardinals, who suffered a five-overtime loss at Notre Dame on Saturday.

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