United Group Insurance

Royce White Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Sports

March 5th, 2012 by Jim Field

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State sophomore forward Royce White has burst onto the national collegiate basketball scene and the Big 12 coaches have taken notice. White, who is ranked in the Big 12’s top-five in both rebounding (9.2) and assists (5.2), was honored as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, announced today by the league office.

White is the only player in the nation to lead his team in scoring (12.9), rebounding (9.2), assists (5.2), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.0). The Minneapolis, Minn., native, has nine double-doubles to rank second in the league and the point-forward registered just the sixth triple-double against league competition in Big 12 history with 10 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Texas A&M.

White, who was recently named to the Naismith Award Top-30 Watch List, is averaging 6.8 assists in his last nine games. He was a three-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week honoree during the season.

White is the fifth Cyclone in school history to earn conference newcomer of the year honors: Zaid Abdul-Aziz (1966, Big Eight), Bill Cain (1968, Big Eight), Dedric Willoughby (1996, Big Eight) and Jamaal Tinsley (2000, Big 12).