Marquette University Athletics
James Jr. Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week For Third Time
2/16/2026 10:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Guard first MU newcomer with trio of 30-point games
Marquette University guard Nigel James Jr. has been named the BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Week for the third time in 2025-26, the league office announced Monday morning.
James Jr. averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.0 steals this past week in a pair of games for Marquette against Villanova and Xavier. On Feb. 14 at Xavier, James Jr. finished with 30 points and a career-best 12 assists for his first-career double-double.
Through games of Feb. 15, James Jr. is just one of four freshmen (AJ Dybantsa - BYU, Darius Acuff Jr. - Arkansas, Kavair Kennedy - Merrimack) in the country to lead his respective league in scoring (19.2 ppg.) in conference games.
James Jr. is also one of just two freshmen (Keaton Wagler - Illinois) in the nation to contribute at least 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per outing in conference matchups through this past weekend's games.
James Jr. Highlights
James Jr. averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.0 steals this past week in a pair of games for Marquette against Villanova and Xavier. On Feb. 14 at Xavier, James Jr. finished with 30 points and a career-best 12 assists for his first-career double-double.
Through games of Feb. 15, James Jr. is just one of four freshmen (AJ Dybantsa - BYU, Darius Acuff Jr. - Arkansas, Kavair Kennedy - Merrimack) in the country to lead his respective league in scoring (19.2 ppg.) in conference games.
James Jr. is also one of just two freshmen (Keaton Wagler - Illinois) in the nation to contribute at least 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per outing in conference matchups through this past weekend's games.
James Jr. Highlights
- First Marquette true freshman to have three games of 30-or-more points in a season
- Only BIG EAST player with three-games of 30-or-more points this season
- First BIG EAST freshman since Troy Murphy of Notre Dame in 1998-99 to have at least three 30+ point games in league regular season play. (Murphy also did it three times, so a fourth game would be the best since 1996)
- If you count any game, he is the first BIG EAST freshman since Carmelo Anthony (2002-03) to have three 30-point games overall. As he did it twice in league games, and once in the NCAA Tournament.
- First 30-point, 12-assist BIG EAST game since Chris Thomas of Notre Dame against Miami on 2-23-2002. These are also the only two occurrences since 1996.
- Nationally, James Jr. is the first freshman to accomplish the feat (30 points, 12 assists) since Jalen Pickett (Siena) on 2-17-2019, who finished with 46 points and 13 assists in overtime.
- In a regulation game, James Jr. is the fourth freshman with 30 points and 12 assists nationally since 2002 (twice by Trae Young, and also by Corey Sanders and Chris Thomas).
- In BIG EAST action, this is the 13th 30/10 occurrence by a BIG EAST Player since 1996, and first since Jayden Epps on Jan. 19, 2024. It is also the seventh occurrence in a BIG EAST regular season game and sixth different player since 1996. Epps, Primo Spears, Ben Hansbrough, Kemba Walker, Chris Thomas (x2), also did it in a BIG EAST regular season game dating back to 1996.
Players Mentioned
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