Indiana, Iowa, and USC Garner Men’s Basketball Weekly Laurels

Co-Player of the Week
Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana 
G – R-Sr. – 6-6 – Ashdown, Ark. - Ashdown

• Averaged 29.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game as Indiana split a pair of games
• Opened the week with 33 points, four rebounds, and three steals in an 81-75 loss at USC
• Posted 25 points, including a pair of free throws to send the game to overtime and all six of Indiana’s points in the extra frame, in a 78-77 win over Wisconsin
• Earns second Player of the Week honor
• Last Indiana Player of the Week: Lamar Wilkerson (December 15, 2025)

Co-Player of the Week
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
G – Sr. – 6-6 – Liberty, Mo. – Liberty

• Averaged 29 points, 3.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while playing all but four seconds as the Hawkeyes went 2-0
• Shot 60.6 percent (20-of-33) from the field, 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from long range and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the free throw line in the two wins
• Paired 22 points and five assists in an 84-74 win at Washington and a scored career-high 36 points in a 76-70 win over Northwestern
• Claims his second consecutive Player of the Week award
• Last Iowa Player of the Week: Bennett Stirtz (February 2, 2026)

Freshman of the Week
Alijah Arenas, USC
G – 6-6 – Woodland Hills, Calif. – Chatsworth

• Recorded 26.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in leading the Trojans to a pair of wins
• Paired a career-high 29 points and six rebounds in an 81-75 win over Indiana 
• Scored 24 points, including the game-winning basket with 0.7 seconds to play, in a 77-75 victory at Penn State
• Garners his first Freshman of the Week honor
• Last USC Player of the Week: Wesley Yates III (January 13, 2025)

2025-26 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Feb. 9
P: Lamar Wilkerson, IND
P: Bennett Stirtz, IOWA
F: Alijah Arenas, USC

Feb. 2
P: Bennett Stirtz, IOWA
P: Jeremy Fears Jr., MSU
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Jan. 26
P: Keaton Wagler, ILL
P: Jeremy Fears, MSU
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Jan. 19
P: Diggy Coit, MD
P: John Blackwell, WIS
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Jan. 12
P: Braden Smith, PUR
P: Nick Boyd, WIS
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Jan. 5
P: Morez Johnson Jr., MICH
P: Braden Smith, PUR
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL
F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

Dec. 22
P: Tariq Francis, RUT
P: Skyy Clark, UCLA
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Dec. 15
P: Lamar Wilkerson, IND
P: Pryce Sandfort, NEB
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Dec. 8
P: John Blackwell, WIS
F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

Dec. 1
P: Yaxel Lendeborg, MICH
F: Kayden Mingo, PSU

Nov. 24
P: Diggy Coit, MD
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Nov. 17
P: Braden Smith, PUR
F: David Mirkovic, ILL

Nov. 10
P: Tucker DeVries, IND
P: Bruce Thornton, OSU
F: David Mirkovic, ILL