Baylor Men's Basketball’s Cryer Named Big 12 Player of the Week

WACO, Texas – Baylor junior guard LJ Cryer picked up Big 12 Conference Player of the Week honors, as announced by the league office on Monday.

The Katy, Texas, native blistered tough competition at the Continental Tire Main Event, averaging 23.5 points in two games against No. 16 Virginia and No. 8 UCLA. Cryer helped lift BU to its 11th win in the last 12 games against AP Top-10 foes with a career-best 28 points in a career-high 35 minutes against the eighth-ranked Bruins. After opening the game with 10 first-half points, Cryer found his stroke in the second half, making five of his eight shots, including three of his four three-pointers and a pair of clutch free throws to seal the game down the stretch.

The junior opened the Continental Tire Main Event with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting against a No. 16 Virginia team that ranks 11th in the country in the latest KenPom defensive ratings. Cryer was three of five from beyond the arc against the Cavaliers to go along with a season-high four assists.

Cryer opened the week with 20 points and a career-high four rebounds against Northern Colorado, helping head coach Scott Drew capture his 400th career win at Baylor.

He now ranks second in the conference in three-pointers made (16), third in scoring (18.00) and third in three-point percentage. With two more 20-point performances this week, Cryer has seven for his career, and the Bears are 7-0 in those games.
This is the eighth time in program history that Baylor has won Big 12 Player of the Week awards in back-to-back weeks.

Cryer and the Bears will return to the court on Wednesday when they host McNeese State at 3 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. BU will commemorate head coach Scott Drew's 400 wins at Baylor with a pregame ceremony before tip-off against the Cowboys. The game will be available on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with John Morris and King McClure calling the action.

Single-game and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at BaylorBears.com. Follow @BaylorMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for additional updates.

BAYLOR'S BIG 12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• 1996-97 – Patrick Hunter (2/17)
• 1997-98 – Patrick Hunter (1/4)
• 1997-98 – Brian Skinner (1/11)
• 1998-99 – Kish Lewis (11/24)
• 1999-00 – Terry Black (1/3)
• 2000-01 – Terry Black (2/19)
• 2002-03 – Lawrence Roberts (2/17)
• 2007-08 – Curtis Jerrells (11/19)
• 2007-08 – Kevin Rogers (12/24)
• 2007-08 – Curtis Jerrells (1/28)
• 2007-08 – Kevin Rogers (3/3)
• 2009-10 – LaceDarius Dunn (11/16)
• 2009-10 – LaceDarius Dunn (1/4)*
• 2009-10 – Ekpe Udoh (1/11)
• 2009-10 – LaceDarius Dunn (2/15)*
• 2011-12 – Perry Jones III (12/19)
• 2011-12 – Perry Jones III (1/16)*
• 2012-13 – Cory Jefferson (11/12)*
• 2012-13 – Pierre Jackson (1/28)
• 2012-13 – Pierre Jackson (3/10)
• 2013-14 – Cory Jefferson (12/2)
• 2013-14 – Isaiah Austin (2/17)*
• 2013-14 – Cory Jefferson (2/24)
• 2013-14 – Kenny Chery (3/9)
• 2014-15 – Rico Gathers (1/26)
• 2014-15 – Rico Gathers (2/9)
• 2015-16 – Rico Gathers (11/16)
• 2015-16 – Taurean Prince (12/7)
• 2015-16 – Johnathan Motley (2/22)
• 2016-17 – Johnathan Motley (11/28)
• 2016-17 – Manu Lecomte (12/5)
• 2016-17 – Johnathan Motley (1/9)
• 2016-17 – Johnathan Motley (1/23)
• 2017-18 – Manu Lecomte (2/12)
• 2017-18 – Terry Maston (2/19)
• 2018-19 – Tristan Clark (12/31)
• 2018-19 – King McClure (1/21)
• 2018-19 – Makai Mason (2/4)
• 2019-20 – Jared Butler (11/25)
• 2019-20 – Freddie Gillespie (12/9)
• 2019-20 – Jared Butler (1/13)*
• 2020-21 – Jared Butler (1/25)
• 2020-21 – Davion Mitchell (2/1)
• 2020-21 – MaCio Teague (3/8)
• 2021-22 – James Akinjo (1/3)
• 2021-22 – Adam Flagler (1/10)*
• 2021-22 – James Akinjo (3/7)*
• 2022-23 – Adam Flagler (11/14)
• 2022-23 – LJ Cryer (11/21)

* - swept Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week honors