{"id":98110,"date":"2025-12-23T04:52:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T04:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/98110\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T04:52:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T04:52:15","slug":"watts-earns-big-12-newcomer-of-the-week-starting-five-honors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/98110\/","title":{"rendered":"Watts earns Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Starting Five honors"},"content":{"rendered":"

LUBBOCK \u2013 The Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year is this week’s Big 12 Newcomer Player of the Week. LeJuan Watts<\/a> secured his first weekly conference honor of the season after scoring a career-high 36 points in a win over Northern Colorado and then providing 20 points in the win over Duke. For the week, he averaged 28.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He was also named to the Big 12 Starting Five along with teammate Christian Anderson<\/a>, Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor), Kingston Flemings (Houston) and AJ Dybantsa (BYU).<\/p>\n

Watts scored his career-high 36 points in a win over Northern Colorado after going 12-for-13 from the field and then went for 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals to help Texas Tech knock off then-No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden. Watts was 12-for-13 from the field against Northern Colorado, hitting his first 12 shots before missing a 3-pointer in the final minutes. He finished the game shooting 92.3% percent to become the first Big 12 player to score over 35 points while shooting over 90% in a game. Watts followed his stellar performance by dropping 20 on Duke despite fouling out with 11 minutes to play. He was 10-for-17 from the field against the Blue Devils for his third game this season scoring 20 or more points.<\/p>\n

A redshirt junior in his first season at Texas Tech after transferring from Washington State, Watts is now averaging 14.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season going into the final non-conference matchup for the Red Raiders against Winthrop on Sunday, December 28 at United Supermarkets Arena.<\/p>\n

Big 12 Player of the Week

\nNov. 10 \u2013 Koa Peat, Arizona & Christian Anderson<\/a>, Texas Tech

\nNov. 17 \u2013 Kingston Flemings, Houston

\nNov. 24 \u2013 P.J. Haggerty, K-State

\nDec. 1 \u2013 Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

\nDec. 8 \u2013 Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State

\nDec. 15 \u2013 Melvin Council Jr., Kansas

\nDec. 22 \u2013 Christian Anderson<\/a>, Texas Tech

\n\u00a0

\nBig 12 Newcomer of the Week

\nNov. 10 \u2013 Koa Peat, Arizona

\nNov. 17 \u2013 Kingston Flemings, Houston

\nNov. 24 \u2013 Koa Peat, Arizona

\nDec. 1 \u2013 Moe Odum, Arizona State

\nDec. 8 \u2013 Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

\nDec. 15 \u2013 Melvin Council Jr., Kansas

\nDec. 22 \u2013 LeJuan Watts<\/a>, Texas Tech\u00a0<\/p>\n

Big 12 Starting Five:

\nTounde Yessoufou, Baylor

\nAJ Dybantsa, BYU

\nKingston Flemings, Houston

\nChristian Anderson<\/a>, Texas Tech (player)

\nLeJuan Watts<\/a>, Texas Tech (newcomer)<\/p>\n

Follow the Red Raiders:\u00a0Keep up with Texas Tech men’s basketball news at\u00a0TexasTech.com<\/a>\u00a0and at the team’s social media on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n