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<h1 align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Jan. 3, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
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<h2 align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-style:normal">Baylor MBB’s James Akinjo Named Big 12 Player of the Week<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Bears’ first conference Player of the Week honoree for the 2021-22 season<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">For more information contact:
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">David Kaye, 254-709-5147,
<a href="mailto:David_Kaye@baylor.edu">David_Kaye@baylor.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">WACO, Texas – </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Baylor senior guard James Akinjo picked up Big 12
Conference Player of the Week honors, as announced Monday by the conference office.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<span style="background:white"> </span><br>
<span style="background:white">The transfer from Arizona had a big week to help the Bears run the nation’s longest winning streak to 19 games. Akinjo filled up the stat sheet averaging 21.5 points, 6.0 assists and 2.5 steals in a pair of Baylor wins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The Oakland, Calif., native capped his week with a team-high 16-points in a road win at No. 8 Iowa State to help Baylor move to 9-0 against top-10 teams since the
start of the 2020-21 season. Akinjo was 6-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-2 from long range on his way to a fifth-straight game with 14+ points.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Akinjo started the week strong with a career-high 27 points to go along with nine assists, five rebounds and four steals in a 104-68 Baylor victory over Northwestern
State. He was just one assist shy of his third double-double of the season. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666;background:white"> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Akinjo, the Big 12 Conference leader in assists and steals, is Baylor’s first conference Player of the Week honoree for the 2021-22 season, and the first since Macio Teague won
the award on March 8, 2021. This is the first Big 12 weekly honor for the former Big East Freshman of the Year and All PAC-12 first-teamer. He is the 27<sup>th</sup> different Baylor player to win conference player of the week honors.<br>
<br>
Akinjo and the Bears will return to action on Tuesday, hosting the Oklahoma Sooners in a 6 p.m. CT tip at the Ferrell Center. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and the ESPN app, with Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla and Kris Budden calling the action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><br>
Follow @BaylorMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates throughout the year.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><br>
<span style="background:white"> </span><br>
</span><strong><u><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">BAYLOR BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOREES</span></u></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<span style="background:white">1997 – Patrick Hunter (2/17)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">1998 – Patrick Hunter (1/4)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">1998 – Brian Skinner (1/11)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">1999 – Kish Lewis (11/24)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2000 – Terry Black (1/3)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2001 – Terry Black (2/19)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2003 – Lawrence Roberts (2/17)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2008 – Curtis Jerrells (11/19)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2008 – Kevin Rogers (12/24)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2008 – Curtis Jerrells (1/28)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2008 – Kevin Rogers (3/3)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2010 – LaceDarius Dunn (11/16)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2010 – LaceDarius Dunn (1/4)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2010 – Ekpe Udoh (1/11)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2010 – LaceDarius Dunn (2/15)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2012 – Perry Jones III (12/19)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2012 – Perry Jones III (1/16)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2013 – Cory Jefferson (11/12)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2013 – Pierre Jackson (1/28)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2013 – Pierre Jackson (3/10)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2014 – Cory Jefferson (12/2)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2014 – Isaiah Austin (2/17)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2014 – Cory Jefferson (2/24)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2014 – Kenny Chery (3/9)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2015 – Rico Gathers (1/26)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2015 – Rico Gathers (2/9)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2016 – Rico Gathers (11/16)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2016 – Taurean Prince (12/7)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2016 – Johnathan Motley (2/22)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2017 – Johnathan Motley (11/28)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2017 – Manu Lecomte (12/5)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2017 – Johnathan Motley (1/9)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2017 – Johnathan Motley (1/23)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2018 – Manu Lecomte (2/12)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2018 – Terry Maston (2/19)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2019 – </span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Tristan Clark</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"> (12/31)</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<span style="background:white">2019 – King McClure (1/21)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2019 – Makai Mason (2/4)</span><br>
<span style="background:white">2020 – </span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Jared Butler</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"> (11/25)</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;font-weight:normal">2020 – Freddie Gillespie (12/9)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;font-weight:normal">2020 – Jared Butler (1/13)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;font-weight:normal">2021 – Jared Butler (1/25)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;font-weight:normal">2021 – Davion Mitchell (2/1)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;font-weight:normal">2021 – MaCio Teague (3/8)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">2022 – James Akinjo (1/3)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">2021-22 BAYLOR MBB HONORS</span></u></strong><u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">James Akinjo<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">2021 Battle 4 Atlantis MVP<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 3)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Naismith Trophy Watch List<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Preseason All-America Honorable Mention (The Athletic)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">No. 67 on CBS’ Top 100 Players for 2021-22<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Kendall Brown<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Dec. 20)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">2021 Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Adam Flagler<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Naismith Trophy Watch List<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Preseason All-America Honorable Mention (The Athletic)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Luke Olson Award Watch List<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">No. 12 on The Athletic’s Top 20 Guards for 2021-22<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">No. 38 on CBS’ Top 100 Players for 2021-22<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Matthew Mayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Naismith Trophy Watch List<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Preseason All-Big 12 Team<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">No. 29 on CBS’ Top 100 Players for 2021-22
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">www.BaylorBears.com</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">-- </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#385623">David Kaye</span></b><span style="color:#385623"> </span><span style="color:black">| Assistant AD for Communications</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">C: 254-709-5147</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D8009F.279B9F60" alt="signature_1049805336"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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