INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Miami guard Isaiah Wong its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 11.
As the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, Wong 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. Once again, the USBWA will select a Division I men's National Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the season. The USBWA has named Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week since the 2009-10 season. Wong joins Shane Larking (Feb. 3, 2013) as the only players from Miami to earn to USBWA's weekly national honor.
Wong, a 6-4 junior from Piscataway, N.J., averaged 29.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game in wins over Cornell and N.C. State as the Hurricanes improved to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC on the season.
Last Wednesday, he scored a career-high 36 points in a 107-105 win over Cornell, the most points by a power conference player this season, and the most by a Hurricane in 15 seasons. On the evening, Wong was 11-for-17 from the field, including 5-for-8 on three-point field goals. He added seven rebounds and six assists and committed just a single turnover.
Three days later, he helped the 'Canes rally from a 16-point deficit against N.C. State, scoring 22 points and recording a career-high eight assists without a turnover in an 80-73 victory.
For the week, he shot 19-of-30 (63.3%) from the field, 7-of-12 (58.3%) from three and 13-of-14 (92.8%) at the free-throw line. He had 14 assists with just one turnover in 69 minutes of play in the two games.
The Hurricanes return to the court on Saturday at Noon ET, playing host to St. Francis (Pa.)
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. The winner of the award will announced at the 2023 Men's Final Four in Houston with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.