INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Chattanooga center Jake Stephens its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 18.
As the Southern Conference Player of the Week, Stephens was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week. Once again, the USBWA will select a Division I men's National Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the season. The USBWA has named Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week since the 2009-10 season. Stephens joins Wofford's Fletcher Magee (March. 3, 2019) as the only players from the Southern Conference to earn to USBWA's weekly national honor.
Stephens, a 7-0 graduate from Bunker Hill, W. Va., averaged 28.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.5 blocks per game in earning a fourth straight conference player of the week honor. He finished the pair of games averaging 39.3 minutes and ended the span shooting 61.3% (19-of-31) from the field including a 66.7% (6-of-9) mark from three.
In Saturday's 83-79 overtime loss to Belmont, Stephens recorded the the first 30-point, 20-rebound effort on record at UTC. He scored 32 points on 11-of-18 from the field and 5-of-8 from the three-point line. Along with 20 rebounds, he added five assists and five blocks.
During Thursday's 82-73 win at Middle Tennessee, he posted 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four blocks to help the Mocs snap the Blue Raiders 20-game home win streak. He finished the contest 8-of-13 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
For the season, Stephens joins Purdue's Zach Edey as the only players in NCAA Division I averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. His season scoring average sits at 22.5 points per game while his rebound average is 10.5 per game. Stephens is currently the only player in NCAA Division I averaging 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and 2.5-plus blocks per game.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest award and the only one named after a former player.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will announced at the 2023 Men's Final Four in Houston with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.