Feb. 13, 2006
WACO, Texas - Baylor freshman Curtis Jerrells was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week after averaging 22 points in a win over Missouri and a loss at Oklahoma, the league office announced Monday.
The award is the first for a Baylor rookie since sophomore transfer Tim Bush was honored in January of last season.
Jerrells, a true freshman from Austin, averaged 22 points and hit 6-of-7 3-pointers in Baylor's win over Missouri and loss at Oklahoma. He had a career day in the MU win, shooting 11-of-14 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. His 28 points matched the highest single-game total by a Big 12 freshman this season (Jamel White, Nebraska). Jerrells also scored a team-high 16 in the loss at OU.
The 6-1 guard has made an immediate impact in Baylor's abbreviated season. A starter in all 10 games, Jerrells leads the team in scoring (12.1 ppg), assists (3.3 apg), steals (1.3 spg) and minutes played (32.5 mpg). His play has improved recently, when over the last five games he is averaging 16.8 points and shooting 54 percent (13-of-24) on 3-pointers and 87 percent (13-of-15) from the line. Jerrells hit the game-winning 3-pointer vs. Kansas State that snapped Baylor's 20-game losing streak.
Jerrells was honored along with Player of the Week Mario Chalmers (Kansas guard). Chalmers averaged 21.5 points in two wins last week. The players are selected by a media panel which covers Big 12 men's basketball.
Jerrells and the Bears return to action Tuesday when they face No. 6 Texas at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live in Texas on FSN Southwest.
