IRVING, Texas – Standout VJ Edgecombe headlined a trio of Bears highlighted by the Big 12’s All-Conference awards, announced Monday evening.
The Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year joined Norchad Omier and Robert Wright as Baylor’s three Big 12 honorees. The Big 12 awards were voted on by the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
In addition to being the 13th player in Big 12 history and the third-straight rookie from Baylor to sweep the preseason and postseason freshman of the year honors, Edgecombe was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team and the All-Big 12 Second Team. Baylor is the only school in Big 12 history to have the preseason and postseason freshman of the year in three consecutive seasons. His 15.0 points per game led the conference, as the Bahamian national team guard averaged 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, both of which ranked third among Big 12 freshmen.
Veteran Norchad Omier earned a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team and All-Newcomer Team. Omier is the first Bear since the 2022-23 season to earn a First Team spot. Omier has taken over the boards, ranking No. 1 in the Big 12 with 10.7 rebounds per game. With an average of 15.6 points per game, Omier currently holds 19 double-doubles this season, tying the Baylor program record in double-doubles per season. His 87 career double-doubles ranks in a tie for second place in NCAA history.
Wright was named on the All-Freshman Team and earned Honorable Mention honors. Wright, dishing out 4.45 assists per game, holds the Baylor program record in single season assists with 138 and counting. Wright ranks fourth among all NCAA freshmen and second among Big 12 freshmen in assists.
No. 7 seed Baylor opens play at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship with a second round matchup at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Baylor will await the winner of No. 10 Kansas State or No. 15 Arizona State.
2024-25 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Awards
Player of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Joseph Tugler, Houston
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: LJ Cryer, Houston
Freshman of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Sixth Man Award: Curtis Jones, Iowa State
Most Improved: Richie Saunders, BYU
Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
All-Big 12 First Team
- Caleb Love, Arizona
- Norchad Omier, Baylor
- Richie Saunders, BYU
- LJ Cryer, Houston
- J’Wan Roberts, Houston
- Curtis Jones, Iowa State
- Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
- Darrion Williams, Texas Tech
- Javon Small, West Virginia
All-Big 12 Second Team
- VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
- Keyshawn Hall, UCF
- Milos Uzan, Houston
- Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
- Chance McMillian, Texas Tech
All-Big 12 Third Team
- Joseph Tugler, Houston
- Zeke Mayo, Kansas
- Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State
- Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Honorable Mention: Arizona: Tobe Awaka, Henri Veesaar; Baylor: Robert Wright; BYU: Egor Demin; UCF: Darius Johnson; Cincinnati: Jizzle James; Colorado: Julian Hammond III; Houston: Emanuel Sharp; Kansas: Dajuan Harris Jr.; Kansas State: David N’Guessan; Oklahoma State: Bryce Thompson; TCU: Noah Reynolds, Ernest Udeh Jr.; Utah: Gabe Madsen
All-Defensive Team
- Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
- J’Wan Roberts, Houston
- Joseph Tugler, Houston
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Sencire Harris, West Virginia
All-Freshman Team
- Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
- VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
- Robert Wright, Baylor
- Egor Demin, BYU
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
All-Newcomer Team
- Norchad Omier, Baylor
- Keyshawn Hall, UCF
- Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
- Zeke Mayo, Kansas
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech
