ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Kansas’ Joel Embiid is the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week for games ending the week of Jan. 19. Selden was selected by CBSSports.com’s Jeff Borzello, in partnership with the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Borzello’s popular weekly freshman watch column will continue to feature nation’s the top freshmen each week in addition to the national player of the week. Later in the season, the USBWA will release a midseason watch list before naming finalists for the award. This season marks the first time a weekly national freshman of the week will be selected and, each Tuesday through Feb. 25, a standout first-year player will be chosen for the honor.

Embiid, a 7-0 center from Yaounde, Cameroon, helped lead the Jayhawks to two conference wins over ranked opponents, averaging 14.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.5 blocks. He is the second straight Kansas freshman – and third straight Big 12 player – to earn the USBWA’s weekly award, following teammate Wayne Selden Jr. and Kansas State’s Marcus Foster.

Embiid started the week with a dominant second half in a 77-70 win at Iowa State, going for 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. Up next was a showdown with Oklahoma State, widely considered Kansas’ biggest competition for the Big 12 title. He finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks, shooting 5-for-6 from the field in leading the Jayhawks to the 80-78 win.

Including last night’s win vs. Baylor, Embiid is now averaging 11.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, while shooting 67.9 percent from the field this season.

The Integris Wayman Tisdale Award is to be presented to the national freshman of the year at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards on April 14, 2014, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award will also be presented at the gala to be held annually the Monday following the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

The USBWA has chosen a national freshman of the year since the 1988-89 season when LSU’s Chris Jackson was the recipient. Last season, Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart became the third winner of the Wayman Tisdale Award. Other notable previous winners of the national freshman of the year award include Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Chris Webber.

The Tisdale Award winner will receive a statuette designed by nationally-recognized sculptor Shan Gray. The April 14 banquet will also honor the recipient of the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award.

The late Wayman Tisdale was a three-time USBWA All-American at the University of Oklahoma. Following a stint on the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team, he played 12 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1997 to focus on a blossoming jazz music career. In March 2007, he was diagnosed with cancer and, following a courageous and difficult battle that included the amputation of his right leg in 2008, he passed away in May 2009.

The Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award is produced by Access Sports, an Oklahoma City-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation responsible for creating the Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award. Access Sports produces all events associated with the award, including the annual awards dinner. Proceeds from the activities affiliated with the award are used to support various worthy charitable causes, including providing opportunities for disadvantaged youth to participate in basketball leagues, clinics, and training throughout the state. In addition, Access Sports supports the Wayman L. Tisdale Foundation which helps fund prosthetics for those who cannot afford the cost on their own and may not be covered by insurance.

Tickets and sponsorship information for the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards are available atcollegebasketballawards.com or by contacting Scott Hill (405-749-1515, scott.hill@access-sports.net).

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With more than 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.

Related links:

• Jeff Borzello’s Wayman Tisdale Award Watch (Jan. 21)

• Integris Wayman Tisdale Award

2013-14 Wayman Tisdale National Freshmen of the Week

• Week of Dec. 8: Chris Perry, USF (American Athletic Conference)

• Week of Dec. 15: Jordan Woodard, Oklahoma (Big 12 Conference)

• Week of Dec. 22: Jabari Parker, Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)

• Week of Dec. 29: James Young, Kentucky (Southeastern Conference)

• Week of Jan. 5: Marcus Foster, Kansas State (Big 12 Conference)

• Week of Jan. 12: Wayne Selden, Kansas (Big 12 Conference)

• Week of Jan. 19: Joel Embiid, Kansas (Big 12 Conference)