U.S. Basketball Writers Association News

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association mourns the passing of Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a longtime member of our Board of Directors whose authoritative perspective and generosity of spirit made him an essential part of the organization.

Billy Ray Barnes III of Dean College (Franklin, Mass.) and Korin Baker of Whitman College (Walla Walla, Wash.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending December 1.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week for games of the week ending Sunday, Dec. 1.

For the period through Sunday, Dec. 1, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are Florida State guard Ta’Niya Latson, LSU forward Aneesah Morrow, TCU guard Hailey Van and center Sedona Prince, and Kentucky center Clara Strack. The Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week is Texas forward Justice Carlton and the National Team of the Week is Duke.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association mourns the loss of Hall-of-Fame St. John’s University coach Lou Carnesecca, who died Saturday just over a month before what would have been his 100th birthday.

For the period through Sunday, Nov. 24, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, Creighton guard Lauren Jensen, Northern Iowa guard Maya McDermott, Virginia Tech forward Rose Micheaux, and Connecticut guard Sarah Strong. The Tamika Catchings freshman of the week is Duke forward Toby Fournier and the team of the week is UCLA.

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week for games of the week ending Sunday, Nov. 24.

Octavio Brito of Keene State College (Keene, NH) and Natalie Gricius of Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.) were named the Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending November 24.

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week for games of the week ending Sunday, Nov. 17.

Adam Brazil of Hampden-Sydney College (Hampden-Sydney, Va.) and Mary Schluesner of Washington & Lee University (Lexington, Va.) were named the Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending November 17.

For the period through Sunday, Nov. 17, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers, Miami guard Haley Cavinder, Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper, UTSA forward Jordyn Jenkins, and Harvard guard Harmoni Turner. The Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week is Notre Dame forward Kate Koval and TCU is the National Team of the Week.

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week for games of the week ending Sunday, Nov. 10.

The return of collegiate basketball means the return of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association handing out its women’s five-member Ann Meyers Drysdale national players of the week, its Tamika Catchings freshman award, and noting its National Team of the Week. For the period through Sunday, Nov. 10, the first five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the season are Rutgers guard/forward Destiny Adams, Oklahoma center Raegan Beers, UCLA center Lauren Betts, Norfolk State guard Diamond Johnson, and Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles. The initial Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week is Michigan guard Syla Swords and Oregon is the USBWA National Team of the Week.

Lucas Lesko of Wilkes University (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) and Destiny Matthews of Concordia University (Austin, Texas) were named the Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending November 10.

Basketball legend Jerry West passed away today at the age of 86. Following is a statement on behalf of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association will name its annual award for Women’s National Coach of the Year after Geno Auriemma of the University of Connecticut, it was announced on Wednesday.

Photos from the annual awards luncheon in Cleveland, site of the 2024 Women's Final Four.

Purdue center Zach Edey maintained his dominance in the paint and over all opponents again this season, leading the nation in scoring at 24.6 points per game and listing second in rebounding average at 12.1. Those marks that helped lead the Boilermakers (33-4) to the Big Ten regular season title and eventually their first Final Four since 1980 earned Edey a repeat honor as the 2023-24 Oscar Robertson Trophy winner as the USBWA National Player of the Year.

Hailed as a generational player as the most prolific scorer in women’s college basketball history, Iowa guard Caitlin Clark commanded attention not just from Hawkeye opponents but fans as well as she continued to rewrite assorted record books this season. The three-time Big Ten Player of the Year’s iconic season that has led Iowa to its third Final Four earned Clark a repeat selection as the winner of the 2023-24 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as the USBWA National Player of the Year.

Emily Adams of the Hartford Courant, who has covered two of the most successful women’s college basketball programs in the nation, has been named a winner of the 2024 Rising Star Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.