Foster named Big 12 Rookie of the Week

Freshman Marcus Foster was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week on Monday after averaging 16 points in wins over George Washington and No. 6/6 Oklahoma State last week.

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound rookie, Foster becomes the first Kansas State true freshman to earn the weekly honor in more than two seasons since current teammate Thomas Gipson collected the award on Dec. 12, 2012. The Rookie honor is the 27th by a Wildcat since 1998-99 and the 11th won by a K-State freshman in the Big 12 era.

A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Foster averaged 16.0 points on 52.2 percent shooting (12-of-23), including 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from 3-point range, in helping the Wildcats notch RPI Top 25 wins over the Colonials and Cowboys. He also averaged 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.5 blocks in 27.5 minutes per game during the week.

Foster began the week with a 15-point effort in helping K-State hand George Washington just its second loss of the season, 72-55, on New Year's Eve. He went a season-best 6-of-10 from the field, including a 3-pointer, with three rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes of action. Facing his toughest task to date against preseason Big 12 favorite Oklahoma State, he was again stellar with a team-high 17 points on 6-of-13 field goals, including a pair of 3-point field goals, with a season-high eight rebounds, two assists and block in 32 minutes. He has now led the Wildcats in scoring a team-best seven times this season.

One of only two players to start every game this season, Foster paces the Wildcats in a number of categories, including scoring (14.0 ppg.), double-digit scoring games (12), field goals (65) and 3-point field goals (29), while he is among the Top 5 in rebounding, assists, blocks, steals and minutes. He has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 13 games, including a streak of 10 consecutive games from Nov. 13 to Dec. 21, 2013. He has at least one 3-pointer in 13 consecutive contests.