VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State senior men's basketball guard Peter McKey and junior women's basketball guard Erin Whalen were named the Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week, announced Monday.
 
This is McKey's first weekly honor of the season and Whalen's seventh.  McKey, a native of Houston, Texas, helped lead the Blazers to two thrilling league wins over Lee (79-73) and Trevecca Nazarene (113-104) in overtime as the team battle back from ten points down against TNU to force overtime and outscore the Trojans 17-8 in the extra-period on Saturday.  
 
McKey finished the week averaging 19.5 points per game on 13 of 23 from the field (.565), while he was 4 of 11 from distance and a perfect 9 of 9 from the line with his nine made free throws coming all against TNU.  He averaged 3.5 rebounds per game and finished with six assists and two steals, while scoring 39 points.  Against TNU, he scored a career-high 33 points in 39 minutes on 10 of 17 from the field, 4 of 9 from distance and a perfect 9 of 9 from the line.  
 
The Blazers improved to 14-8 overall and 9-7 in Gulf South Conference play as it has won three-straight games, while head coach Mike Helfer won his 400^th game at the helm of the Blazers in the win over TNU.  
 
Whalen, a native of Cumming, Ga., continued her strong play for the Lady Blazers in a pair of wins over Lee and Trevecca Nazarene to even the season series' against both teams. Whalen averaged 12.0 points per game and seven rebounds per contest, while averaging 3.5 assists per game as she shot 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc.  She finished 10 of 20 from the field, 4 of 9 from deep and pulled down 14 rebounds for the week, while scoring 24 points.
 
The teams return to the road this week as they travel to the Magnolia State to face Delta State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET for a doubleheader, followed by a 3:30 p.m. ET doubleheader at Mississippi College on Saturday.  
 
Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week
Oct. 20, 2025 – Eimy Negron Domenech (Volleyball) / Elad Sebbag (Men's Golf)
Oct. 27, 2025 – Kaitlyn Scherer (Women's Soccer) / Mark Robinson (Football)
Nov. 3, 2025 – Taylor Youmans (Women's Soccer) / Council Allen (Football)
Nov. 10, 2025 – Eimy Negron Domenech (Volleyball) / Corey Reddick, Jr. (Football)
Nov. 17, 2025 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Matt Rolader (Football)
Nov. 24, 2025 – Aryana Hicks (Women's Basketball) / Blaise Wallace (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 1, 2025 – Aryana Hicks (Women's Basketball) / MJ Jones (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 8, 2025 – Alina Martin (Women's Basketball) / Samarion Bond (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 16, 2025 – Amaya Broadus (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)
Dec 22, 2025 –  Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 5, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Lucas Brown Jr. (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 12, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Peter McKey (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 20, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 26, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Blaise Wallace (Men's Basketball)
Feb. 3, 2026 – Chardae Rumph (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)
Feb. 9, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Peter McKey (Men's Basketball)