Two Jayhawks Basketball Players Honored by Big 12

Two league wins over top 10 nationally-ranked non-conference opponents featured athletes that have been named the latest winners of Big 12 weekly awards. Forwards Melvin Ejim (Iowa State) and Perry Ellis (Kansas) share Big 12 Player of the Week accolades, while Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) has been named Rookie of the Week. It is the fourth weekly honor for Ejim (one player, two rookie) while Ellis and Wiggins are recognized for the first time.

PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, F, Sr., 6-6, 230, Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Brewster Academy [N.H.]
In his first game back from injury, Ejim willed Iowa State to a 77-70 victory over No. 7 Michigan. The senior forward came off the bench to lead all scorers with 22 points in 28 minutes. He was 8-of-14 (.571) from the field, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range, while making 5-of-6 (.833) form the free throw line. He grabbed nine rebounds and had three steals in the win, while also adding one assist and one block. It was the seventh 20-point game of Ejim’s career and the 54th time he has scored in double figures.

Perry Ellis, Kansas, F, So., 6-8, 225, Wichita, Kan./Wichita Heights
Ellis scored a career-high 24 points in KU’s 94-83 win over No. 4 Duke at the State Farm Champions Classic. The sophomore forward finished 9-of-13 (.692) from the floor, including one 3-pointer. He also converted 5-of-6 (.833) from the charity stripe. Ellis pulled down a team-best nine rebounds to go along with two assists and a career-high three steals. He had a key steal and assist with 1:16 remaining that led to a six-point Jayhawk lead they would not relinquish.

PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, G, Fr., 6-8, 200, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada/Huntington Prep [W. Va.]
Despite battling foul trouble, Wiggins came up big in the victory over Duke. In just 25 minutes on the floor, the freshman scored a career-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting (.600). He pulled down a season-best eight rebounds and made 4-of-6 (.667) shots from the free throw line, with one block. Wiggins had two key baskets in the last 1:30 of the contest to extend a two-point lead to six and seal the Jayhawks’ win.