Kansas Jayhawks’ Ochai Agbaji named Big 12 men’s basketball player of the year
Kansas senior Ochai Agbaji was named 2021-22 Big 12 men’s basketball player of the year Sunday in a unanimous vote of league coaches.
Agbaji, a 6-foot-5 guard from Kansas City, led all Big 12 players in scoring at 19.8 points a game.
He was joined on the league’s first team by Kansas State’s Nijel Pack, Baylor’s James Akinjo, Iowa State’s Izaiah Brockington and Texas Tech’s Bryson Williams.
KU’s Christian Braun made second team all-league, while KU’s David McCormack and Jalen Wilson made third team as did K-State’s Mark Smith. Dajuan Harris of KU and Marquis Nowell of K-State received honorable mention. Pack also was named most improved player in the league.
Harris and Nowell made the Big 12 all-defensive team. KU’s KJ Adams made the all-freshman team. K-State’s Smith made all newcomer team.
Agbaji’s honor marks the 10th time a Jayhawk has won Big 12 player of the year.
Other Big 12 players of the year from KU: Udoka Azubuike (2020), Devonté Graham (2018), Frank Mason (2017), Thomas Robinson (2012), Marcus Morris (2011), Wayne Simien (2005), Nick Collison (2003), Drew Gooden (2002) and Raef LaFrentz (1997). KU’s Big Eight players of the year: Jacque Vaughn (1996), Danny Manning (1986, 87, 88), Bud Stallworth (1972) and Dave Robisch (1970, 71).
The six Jayhawks named matches the 2006-07 team for the most KU players honored on a single all-league squad.
“So often postseason accolades come from not only individual success but primarily from the team’s success and we’re proud to get a piece of the Big 12 Championship,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “Ochai has had a great year and deserved being a unanimous selection for player of the year and all-Big 12 first team. With Christian on second team, David and Jalen on third team and Dajuan honorable mention, and on the all-defensive team, all five starters were recognized and deservedly so. With KJ being on the all-freshman team, we are proud to have six players honored. I’m happy for them as this is more of a reflection their individual performances and the team’s accomplishments.”
Agbaji, who averaged 5.2 rebounds a game, has made 86 of 209 threes for 41.1%. He is currently 22nd on the Kansas career scoring list. He now has 1,514 points in his career.
He has scored 20 or more points in a league-high 17 games this season. Agbaji has been named Big 12 Player of the Week four times this season.
“Ochai … how he encourages people, how he’s the most talkative guy on the team, how he’s the most athletic guy, he plays harder, he’s the best conditioned, he takes scouting report more serious, I mean, he is a guy that, to me, has soaked in everything he possibly could of his senior year,” Self said of Agbaji.
“I don’t know that very many guys are capable to do that like the way he is. There are no outside distractions. There’s no noise. There’s no thought of the (NBA) Draft. There’s none of that stuff. It’s us, we, team, and that’s how I’ll remember Ochai as much as anything.
“But on top of that, he’s a beautiful basketball player to watch, to me,” Self added. “I love how he can do things athletically, run full speed, stop on a dime, I love how his balance is always good. There are some things that you can’t teach that you like about him as a player, but the biggest thing is, I just love how hard he tries. He’s got some God-given talent, don’t get me wrong, but he’s made himself into the player he is today.”
2021-22 All-Big 12 Team
(As selected conference coaches; **unanimous selection)
Player of the Year – **Ochai Agbaji, Kansas (Sr., G)
Defensive Player of the Year – Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Baylor (Jr., F), Moussa Cisse, Oklahoma State (So., F), Gabe Osabuohien, West Virginia (Sr., F)
Newcomer of the Year – Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State (Sr., G)
Freshman of the Year – Tyrese Hunter, Iowa State (Fr., G)
Sixth Man Award – Jeremy Sochan, Baylor (Fr., F)
Most Improved Player – Nijel Pack, Kansas State (So., G)
Coach of the Year – Scott Drew, Baylor
All-Big 12 First Team
**Ochai Agbaji, Kansas (Sr., G)
Nijel Pack, Kansas State (So., G)
James Akinjo, Baylor (Sr., G)
Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State (Sr., G)
**Bryson Williams, Texas Tech (Gr., F)
All-Big 12 Second Team
Adam Flagler, Baylor (Jr., G)
Christian Braun, Kansas (Jr., G)
Mike Miles Jr., TCU (So., G)
Timmy Allen, Texas (Sr., F)
Taz Sherman, West Virginia (Sr., G)
All-Big 12 Third Team
David McCormack, Kansas (Sr., F)
Jalen Wilson, Kansas (RS-So., F)
Mark Smith, Kansas State (Sr., G)
Avery Anderson III, Oklahoma State (Jr., G)
Marcus Carr, Texas (Sr., G)
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
Matthew Mayey (Baylor), Jeremy Sochan (Baylor), Dajuan Harris (Kansas), Markquis Nowell (K-State), Umoja Gibson (Oklahoma), Jordan Goldwire (Oklahoma), Tanner Groves (Oklahoma), Elijah Harkless (Oklahoma), Damion Baugh (TCU), Emanuel Miller (TCU), Christian Bishop (Texas), Andrew Jones (Texas), Courtney Ramey (Texas), Adonis Arms (Texas Tech), Kevin McCullar (Texas Tech), Kevin Obanor (Texas Tech), Marcus Santos-Silva (Texas Tech), Sean McNeil (West Virginia)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Baylor (Jr., F)
Dajuan Harris., Kansas (RS-So., G)
Markquis Nowell, Kansas State (Jr., G)
Moussa Cisse, Oklahoma State (So., F)
Gabe Osabuohien, West Virginia (Sr., F)
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
James Akinjo, Baylor (Sr., G)
Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State (Sr., G)
Mark Smith, Kansas State (Sr., G)
Timmy Allen, Texas (Sr., F)
**Bryson Williams, Texas Tech (Gr., F).
Big 12 All-Freshman Team
**Jeremy Sochan, Baylor (F)
**Kendall Brown, Baylor (G/F)
KJ Adams, Kansas (F)
**Tyrese Hunter, Iowa State (G)
C.J. Noland, Oklahoma (G)
