Washington State's Faisal Aden Named Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Washington State guard Faisal Aden as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, January 22. The USBWA's weekly honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and will be handed out each Tuesday through February 21 this season.

As the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week, Aden 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.

Aden, a 6'4" senior from San Diego, CA, led the Cougars to a sweep over Stanford and Cal last week, defeating the Pac-12 leader each time. In the two games, he averaged 28.5 points and shot 65.5 percent (19-29) from the field. Aden scored a career-high 33 points against the Cardinal on Thursday, shooting 10-17 from the field while making all 13 free throw attempts. Aden also posted a season-best five rebounds to go with two assists and a steal in the 81-69 win.

Aden continued his scoring spree on Saturday in a 77-75 victory over the Golden Bears, going 9-12 from the field on his way to 24 points. He also was 6-7 from the free-throw line and grabbed two boards. He now has had four 20-point games this season and 10 in his career.

This is the third 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.

Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest award and the only one named after a former player.

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 2012 Oscar Robertson Trophy will be announced and presented by its namesake, Oscar Robertson, at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast on Fri., March 30 in New Orleans, site of the 2012 NCAA Men's Final Four.

2011-12 Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: Thomas Robinson, Kansas (Big 12 Conference)
• Week of Dec. 18: Mike Glover, Iona (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
• Week of Dec. 25: Doug McDermott, Creighton (Missouri Valley Conference)
• Week of Jan. 1: Kyle Weems, Missouri State (Missouri Valley Conference)
• Week of Jan. 8: Damian Lillard, Weber State (Big Sky Conference)
• Week of Jan. 15: Brandon Paul, Illinois (Big Ten Conference)
• Week of Jan. 22: Faisal Aden, Washington State (Pac-12 Conference)