MBB’s Walter Named to Wooden Award Midseason Top-25

WACO, Texas – Baylor freshman guard Ja'Kobe Walter has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason watch list, as selected by a panel of national college basketball experts and announced Wednesday evening on ESPN2.

Walter is one of five Big 12 players on the 25-member list, joining Texas' Max Abmas, Houston's LJ Cryer and a pair of Kansas representatives in Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar. The conference's five selections tie the SEC to lead all leagues, followed by the ACC with four, the Big East with three, and the American, Big Ten, Mountain West and Pac-12 with two selections apiece. This season marks the fourth-straight year BU has had a representative on the Wooden Award Midseason Top-25.

The McKinney, Texas, native is pacing the Bears and leads all freshmen in the Big 12 in scoring at 15.3 points per game. Doing his work against the biggest competition, Walter averages 15.6 points per game against power-conference foes. The freshman's 2.3 three-pointers per game also put him among the top-10 in the Big 12.

Previously named to the Wooden Award Preseason top-50, Walter burst out of the gates with 28 points against Auburn, setting a school record for the most points by a freshman in their debut. In the process, he became one of just four freshmen in Big 12 history to score at least 28 in their debut, and the only player to do it against a power-conference opponent.

In addition to the Wooden Award lists, Walter was also named the Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year, becoming the third-straight Bear to win that award. He was also BU's first freshman to win Big 12 Player of the Week honors on Nov. 13 after his big night against the Tigers.

Walter and the Bears return to action on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT, when Baylor hosts Cincinnati in BU's "Go Gold" game, where fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game. Chuckie Kempf and Chris Spatola will be on the call for ESPN.

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www.BaylorBears.com

2023-24 Season Awards
JALEN BRIDGES
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
Julius Erving Preseason Top-20
NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team

RAYJ DENNIS
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament MVP
Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Week (11/27)

JA'KOBE WALTER
Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Jerry West Award Preseason Top-20
Big 12 Player of the Week (11/13)
NABC Player of the Week (11/14)
Wooden Award Preseason Top-50
NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team
Wooden Award Midseason Top-25

MBB’s Walter Named to Wooden Award Midseason Top-25

Players Mentioned

LJ Cryer

Ja'Kobe Walter

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