Discover the Hidden Gems of the University of Northern Iowa

ST. LOUIS — UNI redshirt sophomore Leon Bond III has been recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) Player of the Week, as declared by the league office on Monday afternoon.

This selection marks Bond’s first weekly conference accolade, and is the first for a Panther since Nate Heise received player of the week honors last December.

Hailing from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Bond achieved new personal bests last week in points (37), successful field goals (12), successful three-point shots (4), and free throws (12) helping UNI secure a victory over Montana at home, 104-76. His 37 points against the Grizzlies stand as the highest recorded by an MVC player this season and the third-most in UNI single-game history. Bond’s 37 points fell just one short of Jeremy Morgan’s home single-game record (38) and three shy of tying UNI’s all-time scoring record (40), a record held by Jerry Waugh and Cam Johnson. Furthermore, his performance against Montana indicated the highest scoring by a UNI player since Morgan’s 38-point outing against North Dakota in December 2016.

Additionally, Bond scored 17 points, including nine in the first half, during Northern Iowa’s 76-68 defeat to Washington State on Saturday at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, tying Tytan Anderson for the team scoring lead.

Bond joined the Panther roster this season following two years at Virginia, which included a redshirt year in 2022-23. In the current season, he has been averaging 11.9 points per game on 60.2% shooting, along with 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, one steal, and 0.4 blocks per game.

Bond and the Panthers are set to return to the court on Sunday, Dec. 29 when they host the Southern Illinois Salukis, resuming MVC play. The tip-off is anticipated at 1 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center, with live coverage provided on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.

Tickets for the Sunday match can be acquired via the UNI Ticket Office online, calling 319-273-4849, or by emailing [email protected].

Follow UNI men’s basketball throughout the season on social media platforms such as Facebook (UNI Men’s Basketball), X (@UNImbb), and Instagram (@uni_basketball). The complete 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther updates and information, can be accessed online at UNIpanthers.com.