KU’s Frank Mason, Bill Self are Big 12 player, coach of the year

Kansas men’s basketball guard Frank Mason has been chosen Big 12 player of the year following a vote of the conference’s coaches.

In addition, KU’s Bill Self won the league’s coach of the year award for the fifth time. It was the first time he earned the honor since sharing it with Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg in 2012.

Mason, who was a unanimous selection, averaged 20.5 points and 5.1 assists. He is the first KU Big 12 player of the year since Thomas Robinson in 2012.

“This is a great honor from the Big 12 coaches but it could not have happened without my teammates and coaches,” Mason said in a release. “We’ve worked hard to get here but have more things to accomplish in the next month.”

Also, KU guard Josh Jackson was selected as Big 12 freshman of the year, the first at KU since Andrew Wiggins in 2014.

“Josh has accepted coaching, his role and has improved at a consistent clip since the start of the season,” Self said. “The last two months in conference play he performed to an All-American level.”

Jackson and Mason both made the all-Big 12 first team, joined by Baylor’s Johnathan Motley, Iowa State’s Monte Morris and Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans.

KU guard Devonté Graham earned second-team all-Big 12 honors, while Kansas State guard Wesley Iwundu made the third team. KU’s Landen Lucas and K-State’s D.J. Johnson received honorable mention.

Baylor’s Manu Lecomte was the league’s newcomer of the year, while West Virginia’s Jevon Carter (defensive player of the year) and Tarik Phillip (sixth man) won the other individual honors.

This story was originally published March 5, 2017 at 12:23 PM with the headline "KU’s Frank Mason, Bill Self are Big 12 player, coach of the year."