Duke’s Boozer, Kent State’s Gillespie are Oscar Robertson Trophy Players of the Month

Duke’s Boozer, Kent State’s Gillespie are Oscar Robertson Trophy Players of the Month

 

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association is proud and excited to unveil a new monthly feature for the 2025-26 season. At the beginning of each month the association will be awarding two Oscar Robertson Player of the Month honors. One will go to a player at a high-major program, the other at a mid-major school. This will continue to spotlight big-time performers and add a little more attention and recognition beyond our five-man Player of the Week spotlights.

The hope is that the winners for November, December, January and February also add to the conversation about All-America teams and the Oscar Robertson Trophy race as well. Player-of-the-month awards are commonplace in American professional sports leagues; college basketball is now in on that as well with this new program.

The monthly awards are voted on by the USBWA’s 11-person executive board. Here are the inaugural winners for November

High-Major Player of the Month: Duke freshman Cameron Boozer

In a loaded field of candidates, Boozer emerged as the top performer in what doubled as his debut month of college basketball. The Blue Devils big man averaged 22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.8 steals for an undefeated Blue Devils team that has held firm in the top five of the AP poll for the past month. He has been consistently excellent, with his two standout games coming on Nov. 14 against Indiana State (35 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, three blocks) and on Nov. 27 against Arkansas on Thanksgiving (35 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals).

The No. 3 player in the class of 2025, per 247Sports, Boozer was named to the USBWA’s preseason lists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy (national player of the year) and the Wayman Tisdale Award (national freshman of the year).

In advanced metrics, Boozer ranks No. 1 at KenPom and EvanMiya as the most valuable player in college basketball through the first four weeks. He’s the only Duke freshman in the past 35 years to score at least 35 points in two games in his debut season – and he did it less than two weeks apart.

Mid-Major Player of the Month: Kent State senior Delrecco Gillespie

There were a lot of mid-major standouts in November, but few had the statistical impact and a direct correlation to winning like Gillespie. Kent State is off to a 7-1 start, its best in six years, primarily because of the 6-foot-8, 230-pound interior force that is Delrecco Gillespie. Through the first four weeks, Gillespie’s averaging 19.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 60.8% from the field. His rebound average is No. 2 in men’s college basketball and he’s the only player in the country averaging more than 11.0 rebounds and 16.0 points.

The MAC could prove to be one of the better mid-major races by the time we get to February. Gillespie’s prowess in the paint and around the rim will be crucial for Kent State’s push to a third NCAA Tournament bid under coach Rob Senderoff.

And in an era where a lot of players are looking to make a splash and cash in at a new spot, Gillespie bucks the trend. He’s a four-year player for Kent State. His numbers have improved across the board every season – with a spike right away in this, his senior campaign in the MAC. Gillespie and Kent State’s next game comes Wednesday night at home against Austin Peay.

Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 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 the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.

2025-26 USBWA Men’s Monthly Honors
• November: Cameron Boozer, Duke (High-Major); Delrecco Gillespie, Kent State (Mid-Major).