Big East Conference Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year

The Big East Conference Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year, known as Big East Conference Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year from 1989 to 2015, is a Rookie of the Year award given annually by the Big East Conference to one or more men's basketball players in their first year of competitive play. It was first awarded by the original Big East Conference at the end of its inaugural 1979–80 season.[1] When the conference split along football lines in 2013, the seven schools of the original Big East that did not play FBS football joined with three other schools and formed a new Big East Conference, with the FBS schools remaining in the former Big East structure under the new name of American Athletic Conference (The American). While both offshoot conferences claim the same 1979 starting date and administrative history, the athletic history of the original league is claimed only by the current Big East.

The award, like the other conference awards, is voted on by conference coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their teams.[2] The recipient of the award is announced at a press conference immediately preceding the Big East men's basketball tournament, at the same time as the Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards. The ceremony takes place at Madison Square Garden during the tournament.[2] The most recent award recipient was Cam Whitmore of Villanova University.[3]

The award was introduced following the conference's first season in 1980, awarded to David Russell of St. John's.[4] Until the 1988–89 season, the award was known as the "Freshman of the Year";[5] from then through the 2014–15 season, it was known as "Rookie of the Year", and first-year transfers were eligible for the award alongside freshmen. The award once again became "Freshman of the Year" in 2016, with eligibility restricted to freshmen.[6] The award has been shared twice—first after the 2004–05 season by Rudy Gay and Jeff Green, and again after the 2007–08 season by Jonny Flynn and DeJuan Blair. As such, the award has been presented 40 times. As only freshmen are eligible (with first-year transfers also eligible from 1989–2015), it is impossible to win the award more than once. However, the coaches in the conference also award a Preseason Rookie of the Year to one or more players before the start of the NCAA basketball season.

  1. ^ "2008-09 Big East Media Guide" (PDF). p. 143. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Anthony, Mike (March 11, 2009). "Thabeet, Blair Share Big East Player Of Year Award". The Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  3. ^ "Marquette Earns Player, Coach of the Year Honors" (Press release). Big East Conference. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "Great Names In St. John's Basketball History". St. John's Red Storm. 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  5. ^ "Big East Basketball Rookie of the Year". Orange Hoops. March 11, 2009. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  6. ^ "BIG EAST Announces Men's Basketball Major Awards" (Press release). Big East Conference. March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2016.