With the end of the Big 12 season comes the annual All-Big 12 awards, and the Kansas basketball team is taking home their fair share this year.
All five starters for the Jayhawks racked up at least one conference honor, demonstrating the impressive range of talent across the team.
KU’s star player and national player of the year candidate Jalen Wilson took home the conference’s top honor as he was named unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year – a distinction that will one day earn him a spot in the Allen Fieldhouse rafters.
Wilson, who leads the conference in scoring (19 ppg) and rebounding (8.4 rpg), was also a unanimous First Team All-Big 12 selection.
It’s the third straight year of All-Big 12 honors for Wilson and he has a chance to become just the seventh player – and fourth Jayhawk – in Big 12 history to lead the conference in scoring and rebounding.
Following today’s news, a Jayhawk has now taken home the Big 12 Player of the Year award in five out of the past seven seasons.
https://twitter.com/Big12Conference/status/1632501278101188609?s=20
Dajuan Harris Jr. was announced as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned spots on the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
Like Harris, Kevin McCullar Jr. was named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and Big 12 All-Defensive Team, while also securing a spot on the All-Big 12 Third Team.
KJ Adams Jr. took home the Big 12 Most Improved Player award and was named to the Honorable Mention team as well.
Lastly, KU’s ballyhooed freshman Gradey Dick was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.
Here is what head coach Bill Self had to say following the announcement:
"“We are all ecstatic to see our guys get recognized for postseason awards,” Self said. “The league is so good and to have Jalen be the player of the year is a tremendous honor for Jalen and it also coincides with the team performing so well. Dajuan being the defensive player of the year is something I know he will cherish forever. And KJ, who would have ever thought a guy that averaged one point a game last year would become the most improved player in the league this year? Gradey is one of the top freshmen in the country and certainly one of the best newcomers in the league. And for Kevin to be a part of the all-defense team and to make third team, we’re excited for all of them.”"
For Kansas to have all five starters each earn multiple Big 12 awards in a year where the conference has never been stronger, is nothing short of impressive.
But while all these individual accolades are great and a testament to the talent on this team, no player honor can compare to the feeling of winning back-to-back national championships.
There’s still more hardware to earn from this year’s Jayhawk squad, and that journey continues this week at the Big 12 Tournament.