The State University of New York Athletic Conference has announced the SUNY Oneonta sophomore Michael Ortale Jr. (Bethlehem, NY/Bethlehem Central) has been selected as the initial PrestoSports men's Basketball Player of the week.
 
Ortale Jr. earned the honor after helping to lead the Red Dragons to three victories to start the season including the team title at the Quality Inn Tipoff tournament hosted by Oneonta this past weekend.
 
For the week, Ortale Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists.  He also recorded five steals and five blocks and shot just shy of 55 percent from the floor.
 
Ortale Jr. opened his Oneonta career with a 30-point showing last Tuesday against Hartwick, as the Red Dragons defeated the Hawks 105-76.  He followed that performance with 17 points versus Cobleskill and eight points versus Sage College.