Walker named Big 12 Rookie of the Week

IRVING, Texas - Wesley Johnson (Iowa State) and Bill Walker (Kansas State) have been chosen the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Player and Rookie of the Week for games of Jan. 14-20 in voting by a panel of media covering the conference. It is the third career weekly honor (two player, one rookie) for Johnson, while Walker captures rookie accolades for the second time in 2007-08.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Wesley Johnson, Iowa State, F, So., 6-7, 210, Corsicana, Texas/Corsicana/Patterson School [N.C.]

Johnson averaged 22.0 points and 7.5 rebounds for Iowa State as the Cyclones won both games last week. The sophomore forward tallied his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 72-67 victory over Missouri. He followed that effort with a career-high 24 points and four boards in a 73-67 tally over Oklahoma State. It marked his third and fourth 20-point outings of the season. In two games, Johnson was 14-of-30 (.467) from the field and 13-of-18 (.722) from the free throw line. He also had three assists, two blocks and two steals. He has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Bill Walker, Kansas State, F, Fr., 6-6, 220, Huntington, W. Va./North College Hill [Ohio]

Walker helped Kansas State defeat a top 10 opponent for the first time since 2004 in the Wildcats only game of the week. The freshman forward finished with 19 points and four rebounds as KSU recorded a 75-54 victory over Texas A&M to start 2-0 in Big 12 play for the first time in conference history. He shot 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from the floor, including a career-high five 3-point field goals. He also had three assists, two blocks and two steals in 31 minutes. Walker has reached double digits in points in 11 of 14 games. In his last eight contests, he is averaging 19.5 points and 6.4 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent from the field.