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, Feb. 16.
For the 2024-25 season, the USBWA continues its national player of the week program that has been affiliated with the Oscar Robertson Trophy since the 2009-10 season. Prior to last season, the USBWA had recognized just one player each week.
Each Tuesday during the regular season, designated USBWA board members will select five standouts from the 31 Division I conference players of the week to be recognized. This week's selections were chosen from a list of the conferences that named a player of the week on Monday.
Following are the five players selected for performances this past week:
Denver Jones, Auburn (Southastern Conference)
The 6-4, senior guard averaged 18.5 points shooting 63.2 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from beyond the arc and perfect from the free throw line (5‐for‐5) in helping No. 1 Auburn to wins at Vanderbilt and at No. 2 Alabama. Jones also limited the opposing teams’ leading scorers to a combined 9-of-28 (32.1 percent) shooting from the field and 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from 3-point range. He scored 14 of his game and season‐high 21 points in the first half at Vanderbilt. Four days later, he added 16 points on 5‐of‐9 shooting from the floor, 3‐of‐5 from long range and 3‐of‐3 free throws at Alabama.
Jalen Terry, Eastern Michigan (Mid-American Conference)
Terry put together an outstanding week for the Eagles, averaging 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 assists over the two games. Against Toledo, Terry scored a career-high 38 points to go with eight rebounds and two assists. Terry converted his first 12 field goal attempts of the game, finishing an 15-of-17 from the field, which included a 6-of-7 mark from three-point range. Terry is one of just four players nationally to record at least 38 points and eight rebounds in the 2025 calendar year. His 38-point outburst overshadowed his stellar showing at Ball State, in which he produced 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
John Tonje, Wisconsin (Big Ten Conference)
The 6-5 graduate guard paired 32 points, six rebounds, and three assists in leading the Badgers to a 94-84 win at Purdue, in which he shot 10-for-15 from the floor, including 4-for-9 from three-point range, and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Including his 41 points vs. No. 9 Arizona, Tonje is the nation's only player to post multiple 30-point games vs. Top 10 opponents this season
JT Toppin, Texas Tech (Big 12 Conference)
Toppin scored 41 points with 15 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the 111-106 double-overtime win against Arizona State. The sophomore’s 41 points tied the most of any Big 12 player in a conference game since Trae Young’s 44 in 2018. The Dallas native followed up with 32 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in a 93-55 win at Oklahoma State, making him the first player with back-to-back 30-point, 10-rebound performances since Blake Griffin in 2009. Over the two games, the forward was 29-of-39 from the field (74.4%) to earn his second newcomer award and first player of the week nod.
Corey Washington, Wichita State (American Athletic Conference)
Washington led the Shockers to a 2-0 week, including an overtime win over No. 14 Memphis on Sunday. The junior averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in wins over the Tigers and UTSA. Against Memphis, Washington recorded 18 points and 15 rebounds.
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 be announced at the 2025 Men's Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, 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 800 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.
2024-25 USBWA Men's Weekly Honors
• Week ending Nov. 10: JaKobe Coles, Grand Canyon; Tyson Dunn, Buffalo; TY Johnson, UC Davis; Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton; Justice Shoats, Siena.
• Week ending Nov. 17: Abdi Bashir, Monmouth; Jaron Pierre, Jax State; Maxine Raynaud, Stanford; John Tonje, Wisconsin; Sonny Wilson, Toledo.
• Week ending Nov. 24: Mason Falslev, Utah State; Cooper Flagg, Duke; Chaz Lanier, Tennessee; Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa, Columbia; John Tonje, Wisconsin.
• Week ending Dec. 1: Johni Broome, Auburn; Chucky Hepburn, Louisville; Tyrese Hunter, Memphis; Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue; Javon Small, West Virginia.
• Week ending Dec. 8: Devin Haid, Central Connecticut; Tyler “Chip” Johnson, Mercer; Ian Schieffelin, Clemson; Sean Smith, Western Illinois; Sebastian Thomas, Rhode Island.
• Week ending Dec. 15: Lamont Butler, Kentucky; Tarence Guinyard, UT Martin; Jamichael Stillwell, Milwaukee; Taryn Todd, Arkansas State; Brice Williams, Nebraska.
• Week ending Dec. 22: Donovan Dent, New Mexico; Treysen Eaglestaff, North Dakota; Caden Pierce, Princeton; Erik Reynolds II, Saint Joseph's; Bruce Thornton, Ohio State.
• Week ending Dec. 29: Eric Dailey Jr., UCLA; Mason Falslev, Utah State; Connor Kochera, Davidson; Ahmad Robinson, Mercer; Brice Williams, Nebraska.
• Week ending Jan. 5: Leo Colimero, Queens; Melvin Council Jr., St. Bonaventure; Cooper Flagg, Duke; Chaz Lanier, Tennessee; Malik Thomas, San Francisco.
• Week ending Jan. 12: AJ Clayton, Ohio; Cooper Flagg, Duke; Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB; Issac McBride, Oral Roberts; Lamar Washington, Pacific.
• Week ending Jan. 19: Tyeree Bryan, Santa Clara; Rahsool Diggins, Massachusetts; Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest; Javon Small, West Virginia; Earl Timberlake, Bryant.
• Week ending Jan. 26: Mekhi Conner, Sacred Heart; Dawson Garcia, Minnesota; Max MacKinnon, Portland; Bo Montgomery, UNCW; Milos Uzan, Houston
• Week ending Feb. 2: Rahsool Diggins, Massachusetts; Madison Durr, Monmouth; Jamal Mashburn Jr., Temple; Darryl Simmons, Gardner-Webb; Brice Williams, Nebraska.
• Week ending Feb. 9: Jamar Brown, Kansas City; Nelly Junior Joseph, New Mexico; Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue; RJ Luis, St. John’s; CJ Walker, East Carolina.
• Week ending Feb. 16: Denver Jones, Auburn; Jalen Terry, Eastern Michigan; John Tonje, Wisconsin; JT Toppin, Texas Tech; Corey Washington, Wichita State.