Nov. 26, 2007

WACO, Texas - Baylor freshman LaceDarius Dunn was named Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week after leading the Bears to two victories last week, including the championship of the Paradise Jam, the league office announced Monday.

Dunn helped Baylor improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2001-02 with wins over Winthrop (62-54) and Centenary (85-62). He set career-highs for points with 17 in each game, shooting a combined 13-of-20 (.650) from the floor. He also shot 50.0 percent (5-of-10) on 3-pointers. Dunn averaged 5.5 rebounds, posting his numbers in just 23.0 minutes per game off the bench.

The rookie of the week honor is the 11th such award for a Baylor player, and the first since Tweety Carter was honored as a freshman in December 2006. This marks Baylor's second conference honor in three weeks of league honors after Curtis Jerrells was named the player of the week last week.

Dunn, a true freshman from Monroe, La., is second on the team in scoring (12.4 points per game) and third in rebounds (5.4 rebounds per game) five games into his collegiate career.

The highest-rated Baylor signee in recent memory (rated the nation's No. 24 recruit by Scout.com), Dunn was named the "Best Perimeter Scorer" among incoming Big 12 newcomers by Rivals.com. A three-time all-state player and two-time class MVP in Louisiana, Dunn led Excelsior Christian School to a 118-9 record and one state championship over his final three prep seasons.

Also honored along with Dunn was Player of the Week A.J. Abrams of Texas. Abrams averaged 26.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two wins and the championship of the StubHub! Legends Classic last week. The players are selected by a media panel which covers Big 12 men's basketball.

Dunn and the Bears return to action Friday when they host No. 9 Washington State at the Ferrell Center at 8 p.m. The game is part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series and will be televised live nationally on ESPNU.