The U.S. Basketball Writers Association is proud to announce an addition to its lineup for the 2009-10 season: The Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week presented by Blue Ribbon Yearbooks. Each Monday through Feb. 22, the USBWA Board of Directors will select a national player of the week from a pool of the 31 Division I conference players of the week. This marks the first time the USBWA has chosen such a weekly honor.

2009-10 Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 13: Gordon Hayward, Butler
• Week of Dec. 20: Jon Scheyer, Duke
• Week of Dec. 27: Devin Ebanks, West Virginia
• Week of Jan. 3: Jimmer Fredette, BYU
• Week of Jan. 10: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
• Week of Jan. 17: Damion James, Texas
• Week of Jan. 24: Adrian Oliver, San Jose State
• Week of Jan. 31: Devan Downey, South Carolina
• Week of Feb. 7: Denis Clemente, Kansas State

Latest news:
• March 30, 2009: Oklahoma's Griffin wins 2009 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• Feb. 26, 2009: Finalists chosen for 2009 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• April 4, 2008: UNC's Hansbrough wins 2008 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• March 5, 2008: Nominees chosen for 2008 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• March 27, 2007: Texas' Kevin Durant named USBWA Player of the Year
• Feb. 28, 2007: Finalists chosen for 2007 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• March 30, 2006: USBWA selects Morrison, Redick as Co-Players of the Year
• Feb. 27, 2006: Finalists chosen for 2006 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• April 1, 2005: Utah's Bogut wins 2005 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• March 17, 2005: Keady, Henson to be honored at USBWA awards breakfast
• Feb. 25, 2005: Finalists chosen for 2005 Oscar Robertson Trophy
• Feb. 3, 2005: Oscar Robertson Trophy to be presented at USBWA Awards Breakfast in St. Louis

About Oscar Robertson: Born Nov. 24, 1938, in Charlotte, Tenn., and raised in Indianapolis, Oscar Robertson learned to play basketball on the dirt courts of the inner city and refined his game through endless hours of individual practice.

He first attracted national attention at Crispus Attucks High School, where he led his team to a 45-game winning streak, two consecutive Indiana state championships and a national championship, and was named "Mr. Basketball" for the state of Indiana. Attucks was the first African-American school and the first Indianapolis school to win the Indiana state crown.

At the University of Cincinnati, where he became known as "The Big O," he led the Bearcats to the Final Four in 1959 and '60. He was a three-time first team All-American, and the first player to lead the NCAA in scoring three straight years or to win National College Player of the Year honors three times.

Following graduation in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Business, he co-captained the undefeated 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medalist team, often considered the greatest basketball team ever assembled.

2009 Oscar Robertson Trophy winner Blake Griffin of Oklahoma with his parents, Tommy and Gail, and coach Jeff Capel (Photo: Aaron Eckels)

During his 14-year NBA career – ten with the Cincinnati Royals and four with the Milwaukee Bucks – Robertson led his teams to 10 playoff appearances, including an NBA championship with the Bucks in 1971. He was the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1961 and Most Valuable Player in 1964. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was voted Most Valuable Player in three All-Star games. In 1961-62, he became the only player in NBA history ever to average a "triple double" for an entire season. He led the league in free-throw percentage twice and assists six times.

His career record of 9,887 assists stood for 17 years and his 26,710 points and 25.7 points per game average rank him seventh on the list of all-time NBA scorers.

In 1998, the U.S. Basketball Writers renamed its annual player of the year award the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

For more information on Oscar Robertson and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, visit Oscar's official website, www.thebigo.com.

Other links of interest:
NBA.com profile | ESPN Classic profile | Basketball Hall of Fame profile