The first Big 12 men’s basketball awards of 2022 were announced as Baylor’s James Akinjo picked up Player of the Week while Kansas State’s Mark Smith captured Newcomer of the Week. Both are first-time honorees.

Akinjo helped the Bears to a 2-0 week by averaging 21.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.5 steals. He started the week with a career-high 27 points, nine assists, and four steals against Northwestern State, finishing just one assist shy of his third double-double of the season. Akinjo followed up that performance with a team-high 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and three assists in a road win at No. 8 Iowa State. It was his fifth-straight game with 14-plus points.
 
Smith, a transfer from Missouri, collected the first 25-point/15-rebound effort by a Wildcat since All-American Michael Beasley collected 30 points and 15 rebounds against Texas on Feb. 25, 2008. He helped K-State climb out of a double-digit deficit at Oklahoma before falling by two points with career-highs for points (25), rebounds (16) and assists (5) while playing nearly 39 minutes and committing no turnovers. His 16 rebounds were the most by a Wildcat in a conference game since Beasley had 17 against Missouri on Feb. 16, 2008. Overall, it was Smith’s fifth career double-double, including his fourth in the last eight games.
 
Big 12 Player of the Week
James Akinjo, Baylor, G, Sr.

Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Mark Smith, K-State, G, Sr.