Baylor Basketball's Walter Nets Big 12 Player of the Week Honors

WACO, Texas – Baylor freshman guard Ja’Kobe Walter was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, announced by the league office on Monday.

The award caps off a historical first week for Walter, who is the first freshman to garner Big 12 Player of the Week honors in program history. Walter is the 38th different player in BU history to be named conference player of the week and the first since Adam Flagler in February of 2023.

Entering the season with plenty of expectations, Walter delivered on a big stage on the opening night of the season with 28 points against Auburn. With his performance against the Tigers, Walter set 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.

Of the 14 20-point performances in the conference this week, Walter's was not only the highest-scoring performance, but it was the only one to come against a power-conference opponent.

Walter closed the week with 14 points and a career-high eight rebounds against Gardner-Webb. On a night where the Bears could not find their stroke from deep, Walter took on the scoring load with a team-high 14 points, helping the Bears secure a 3-0 start to the season for a fourth-straight year.

Walter and the Bears will return to the court Tuesday night as they host Kansas City at 9 p.m., with John Morris and King McClure on the call for Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The Bears will then head east for the NIT Season tip-off at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where they open against Oregon State on Nov. 24, at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

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)

2022-23 – LJ Cryer (1/30)

2022-23 – Adam Flagler (2/13)

2023-24 — Ja’Kobe Walter (11/13)

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