White, Christopherson recognized in AP Big 12 honors

Sophomore forward Royce White reaches above Baylor defenders for a basket during the men’s basketball game against Baylor on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. White’s 11 rebounds led the Cyclones in their upset over the ninth-ranked Bears in the last home game of the season.

Jeremiah Davis
March 5, 2012

ISU forward Royce White added to his year-end award list a day after being picked by Big 12 coaches as All-Big 12 First Team, All-Big 12 Rookie Team and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

The sophomore also was selected by The Associated Press on Monday as Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and was placed on the All-Big 12 First Team.

“All of the personal accolades I get really go to my teammates first, coach [Fred] Hoiberg and the city of Ames and this university because they instilled a lot of confidence in me,” White said Monday at a news conference. “Coming off a two-year sit-out, there was a lot of doubt in my mind about being able to play at this level at the beginning of the season, and they instilled a lot of confidence in me and allowed me to be able to go out and compete the way I did.”

Also receiving recognition from the AP was senior guard Scott Christopherson — who was voted by Big 12 coaches as All-Big 12 Third Team on Sunday — who received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.

Hoiberg, who was named Co-Coach of the Year by the Big 12, lost out on the honor from the AP, which was given to Missouri’s Frank Haith.

The full list of AP awards handed out Monday:

First Team

J’Covan Brown, Texas

Marcus Denmon, Missouri

Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

Royce White, Iowa State

Second Team

Pierre Jackson, Baylor

Perry Jones III, Baylor

Rodney McGruder, Kansas State