BYU basketball: Fredette named national player of the week

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected BYU guard Jimmer Fredette as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 3. The USBWA's weekly honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 23 this season.

As the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week, Fredette was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Fredette, a 6-foot-2 guard from Glens Falls, N.Y., led the Cougars to a 99-69 win at Arizona on Dec. 28 in the Fiesta Bowl Classic. He set a BYU, McKale Center and Fiesta Bowl Classic record, while tying the all-time Mountain West single-game mark, with 49 points. He shot 16-for 23 from the field, including 9-of-13 from 3-point range and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.

Fredette scored 24 points in the first half and 25 in the second and his nine three-point baskets broke Mike Rose's BYU school record of eight in a game. He added nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 36 minutes.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a national player of the week. The weekly Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week is added to the Oscar Robertson Trophy watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2010 Oscar Robertson Trophy will be announced and presented by its namesake, Oscar Robertson, at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast on Friday, April 5 in Indianapolis, site of the 2010 NCAA Men's Final Four.

2009-10 Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week

Week of Dec. 13: Gordon Hayward, Butler

Week of Dec. 20: Jon Scheyer, Duke

Week of Dec. 27: Devin Ebanks, West Virginia

Week of Jan. 3: Jimmer Fredette, BYU