BYU’s Richie Saunders is having a season to remember, and Big 12 basketball coaches are taking note.

On Monday, the conference announced that, as a result of his performance this season, Saunders has won two high-profile All-Big 12 awards.

  • He was named the Big 12’s most improved player.
  • He was also selected for a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team.

In a press release celebrating the awards, BYU noted that Saunders has played a pivotal role in his school’s success this season.

“After averaging 9.6 points per game last season, Saunders went from glue guy to go-to guy as the 6-foot-5 wing scored a team-high 16.0 points per contest during the regular season,” the press release said.
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Saunders’ teammate Egor Demin also picked up some notable accolades, including a spot on the All-Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

The freshman Cougar from Moscow, Russia, earned honorable mention all-conference honors, as did Gabe Madsen from Utah.

BYU guard Egor Demin lays the ball up while guarded by Arizona forward Trey Townsend during a game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. | Isaac Hale,

Here are all the players who have been honored by the Big 12 this year:

2024-25 All-Big 12 Awards

  • Player of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Joseph Tugler, Houston
  • Scholar-Athlete of the Year: LJ Cryer, Houston
  • Freshman of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
  • Newcomer of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
  • Sixth Man Award: Curtis Jones, Iowa State
  • Most Improved: Richie Saunders, BYU
  • Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Houston

All-Big 12 First Team

  • Caleb Love, Arizona
  • Norchad Omier, Baylor
  • Richie Saunders, BYU
  • LJ Cryer, Houston
  • J’Wan Roberts, Houston
  • Curtis Jones, Iowa State
  • Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
  • JT Toppin, Texas Tech
  • Darrion Williams, Texas Tech
  • Javon Small, West Virginia

All-Big 12 Second Team

  • VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
  • Keyshawn Hall, UCF
  • Milos Uzan, Houston
  • Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
  • Chance McMillian, Texas Tech

All-Big 12 Third Team

  • Joseph Tugler, Houston
  • Zeke Mayo, Kansas
  • Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State
  • Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
  • Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State

Honorable Mention

  • Tobe Awaka, Arizona
  • Henri Veesaar, Arizona
  • Robert Wright, Baylor
  • Egor Demin, BYU
  • Darius Johnson, UCF
  • Jizzle James, Cincinnati
  • Julian Hammond III, Colorado
  • Emanuel Sharp, Houston
  • Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
  • David N’Guessan, Kansas State
  • Bryce Thompson, Oklahoma State
  • Noah Reynolds, TCU,
  • Ernest Udeh Jr., TCU
  • Gabe Madsen, Utah

All-Defensive Team

  • Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
  • J’Wan Roberts, Houston
  • Joseph Tugler, Houston
  • Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
  • Sencire Harris, West Virginia

All-Freshman Team

  • Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
  • VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
  • Robert Wright, Baylor
  • Egor Demin, BYU
  • Christian Anderson, Texas Tech

All-Newcomer Team

  • Norchad Omier, Baylor
  • Keyshawn Hall, UCF
  • Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
  • Zeke Mayo, Kansas
  • JT Toppin, Texas Tech

The All-Big 12 men’s basketball awards are voted on by the league’s head coaches.