Texas Tech University Athletics
Holyfield Selected to Oscar Robertson Watch List
December 05, 2019 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior TJ Holyfield has been has selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as one of 46 standout players for its initial watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, presented to the men's national player of the year.
Since its founding in 1956, the USBWA has named a national player of the year. In the 1997-98 season, the award was named in honor of the legendary Oscar Robertson, "The Big O." In addition, the USBWA selects an All-America team and All-District teams, players and coaches of the year.
An Albuquerque, New Mexico native, Holyfield is a graduate transfer who is averaging 10.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 blocks per game. Holyfield scored a season-high 21 points in a win over Houston Baptist where he was 9-for-10 from the field a game after going for 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting against Bethune-Cookman. He leads the Red Raiders by shooting 61.5 percent from the field this season and is 15-for-20 on free throws.
Holyfield has scored 1,162 points, secured 630 rebounds and blocked 141 shots in his collegiate career when combining statistics from his first three seasons at SFA before transferring.
The 2019-20 Oscar Robertson Trophy will be presented at the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta in April. The winner will be also be honored at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Mon., April 13, 2020. The association's Henry Iba Award (national coach of the year) and Wayman Tisdale Award (national freshman player of the year) winners will also be honored at the luncheon as well as the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award and the Tamika Catchings Award, honoring the women's national and freshman players of the year.
While all Division I players are eligible for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, the USBWA board has chosen the players on the watch list to promote the award and give the membership, which votes on all USBWA awards, an early look at some of the best players in the country. In January, the USBWA will release a second watch list, followed by finalists after All-America balloting is complete in March. Last season, Duke's Zion Williamson was the recipient of both the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Wayman Tisdale Award.
The USBWA formally expanded its All-America team to 15 players in 2019 and many of the players on this watch list will contend for All-America honors. In addition, the USBWA continues to name an Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week each Tuesday.
Holyfield and the Red Raiders (5-3) will return to action against No. 1-ranked Louisville at 6 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday at the Jimmy V Classic in New York. The Cardinals (8-0) are represented by junior forward Jordan Nwora on the Robertson Trophy Watch List where he leads the team with 21.9 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds through eight games.
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Since its founding in 1956, the USBWA has named a national player of the year. In the 1997-98 season, the award was named in honor of the legendary Oscar Robertson, "The Big O." In addition, the USBWA selects an All-America team and All-District teams, players and coaches of the year.
An Albuquerque, New Mexico native, Holyfield is a graduate transfer who is averaging 10.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 blocks per game. Holyfield scored a season-high 21 points in a win over Houston Baptist where he was 9-for-10 from the field a game after going for 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting against Bethune-Cookman. He leads the Red Raiders by shooting 61.5 percent from the field this season and is 15-for-20 on free throws.
Holyfield has scored 1,162 points, secured 630 rebounds and blocked 141 shots in his collegiate career when combining statistics from his first three seasons at SFA before transferring.
The 2019-20 Oscar Robertson Trophy will be presented at the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta in April. The winner will be also be honored at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Mon., April 13, 2020. The association's Henry Iba Award (national coach of the year) and Wayman Tisdale Award (national freshman player of the year) winners will also be honored at the luncheon as well as the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award and the Tamika Catchings Award, honoring the women's national and freshman players of the year.
While all Division I players are eligible for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, the USBWA board has chosen the players on the watch list to promote the award and give the membership, which votes on all USBWA awards, an early look at some of the best players in the country. In January, the USBWA will release a second watch list, followed by finalists after All-America balloting is complete in March. Last season, Duke's Zion Williamson was the recipient of both the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Wayman Tisdale Award.
The USBWA formally expanded its All-America team to 15 players in 2019 and many of the players on this watch list will contend for All-America honors. In addition, the USBWA continues to name an Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week each Tuesday.
Holyfield and the Red Raiders (5-3) will return to action against No. 1-ranked Louisville at 6 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday at the Jimmy V Classic in New York. The Cardinals (8-0) are represented by junior forward Jordan Nwora on the Robertson Trophy Watch List where he leads the team with 21.9 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds through eight games.
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