The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2024-25 men’s basketball awards, recognizing outstanding performances across the league. This year’s awards highlight the exceptional talent and coaching within the conference, with notable winners including JT Toppin of Texas Tech and Richie Saunders of BYU.
The Big 12 saw significant changes this season, with Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah joining the Pac-12. Despite these changes, familiar names like Houston and Texas Tech dominated the awards.
Standout Performers and Awards
Texas Tech forward JT Toppin claimed the Big 12 Player of the Year award while maintaining averages of 18.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game during this season.
In fact, he was the only player in the Big 12 to rank in the top three in both categories. Toppin also won the Newcomer of the Year award, becoming the first Big 12 player to win both in the same season.
BIG 12 AWARDS:
POY: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
DPOY: Joseph Tugler, Houston
FOY: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
COY: Kelvin Sampson, HoustonFirst Team
Caleb Love, Arizona
Norchad Omier, Baylor
Richie Saunders, BYU
LJ Cryer, Houston
J’Wan Roberts, Houston
Curtis Jones, Iowa State
Hunter…— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 10, 2025
Houston forward Joseph Tugler received Defensive Player of the Year recognition for his role as he led the national defense stats with 58.1 points conceded per game.
His teammate, guard LJ Cryer, was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year because of his 3.73 GPA and his pursuit of an undergraduate degree.
Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe claimed the Freshman of the Year award, leading all Big 12 freshmen with 15.0 points per game.
Meanwhile, Richie Saunders of BYU was recognized as the Most Improved Player, increasing his scoring average from 9.6 to 16.0 points per game.
Curtis Jones of Iowa State won the Sixth Man Award, averaging 17.0 points per game off the bench.
Finally, Kelvin Sampson of Houston was named Coach of the Year after leading the Cougars to a 19-1 conference record.
The All-Big 12 First Team includes Toppin, Saunders, Arizona guard Caleb Love, Baylor forward Norchad Omier, Cryer, Houston forward J’Wan Roberts, Jones, Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams, and West Virginia guard Javon Small.
IT’S TOURNEY TIME! BIG 12 TOURNAMENT BRACKET AND FULL SCHEDULE
Teams will compete in the Big 12 Tournament from March 11 to 15 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO, before the NCAA Tournament begins.
The Big 12 awards highlight the league’s depth and talent, with standout performers like JT Toppin and Richie Saunders leading the way. As teams head into the postseason, these honors serve as a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the season.
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