Merced, CA (February 25, 2026) — University of California, Merced men’s basketball senior forward Elijah Charles has been named the FloCollege/CCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.
This is the first CCAA weekly award for Charles, who continues to put together one of the most dominant campaigns in the NCAA Division II West Region. The senior earned two Cal Pac Player of the Week awards a year ago. His three total weekly awards are tied for the most in program history.
Charles averaged 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in the final homestand of the season. The Los Angeles native shot 72% from the field and made 16-of-21 free throws.
He opened the week with a career-high 36 points and 16 rebounds in the Bobcats win over Cal State LA, registering the CCAA’s first 35-15 double-double since 2015-16 and UC Merced’s first since Aki Chambers on February 16, 2013. Charles scored 26 first half points and made his first ten field goals. He also blocked two shots. His 36 points and 16 rebounds marked the second most by a CCAA player this season.
Charles followed with 12 points, eight rebounds, a block, and a steal in the near upset win over Cal State Dominguez Hills. He scored eight of his 12 points at the free throw line and was two-of-three from the field.
Charles enters the final week of the regular season leading the CCAA with a .645 field goal percentage, 9.9 rebounds per game, and 12 double-doubles. He ranks fifth with 16.3 PPG.
His 9.9 rebounds per game is on track to be the program’s single-season record.
Charles is currently one of just three players in NCAA Division II to average at least 16 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1 SPG, and 1 BPG. He is in the elite company with Queens College’s Malik-Tahj Campbell and Central Oklahoma’s Matthew Willenborg. His RPG, FGP, and double-doubles numbers lead (or are tied) the NCAA Division II West Region.
UC Merced will finish its first season in the CCAA and NCAA Division II this week at San Francisco State (Feb. 26) and No. 2 Cal State East Bay (Feb. 28). The Bobcats are currently 10-14 overall and 8-12 in conference play.
