For the first time since joining the Conference, a West Virginia player – junior guard Juwan Staten – is the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Texas freshman guard Isaiah Taylor is the top rookie, the second consecutive week a Longhorn player has been recognized with a weekly honor. Both players are named for the first time in their careers.
PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Juwan Staten, West Virginia, G, Jr., 6-1, 190, Dayton, Ohio/Oak Hill Academy/Dayton
Staten averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds as WVU secured wins at Baylor (66-64) and versus Kansas State (81-71). The junior guard opened the week with 15 points and nine assists against the Bears, including the game-winning shot with 3.1 seconds remaining. He followed that performance with a career-high 35 points and five assists in the victory over the Wildcats. Staten was 18-of-21 (.857) from the free throw line in that game, tying the school record for free throws made. Overall, he leads the Big 12 in assists, assist-to-turnover ratio and minutes played and also ranks first in the league in scoring (20.4 ppg) for conference games only.
