Portland freshman guard Joel Foxwell has been recognized as one of five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) for his performances in games ending February 8.
Foxwell, from Melbourne, Australia, had previously earned West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Week honors and collected his sixth WCC Freshman of the Week award this season. His recent play included leading Portland to a notable win over No. 6 Gonzaga—considered the best in school history—and contributing across the board in a narrow victory against Seattle University.
In the Pilots’ 87-80 win over Gonzaga, Foxwell recorded 27 points, four rebounds, and eight assists while playing 39 minutes. He shot 11-of-18 from the field and added a steal. Despite dealing with cramps late in the game, he helped secure only Portland’s second-ever win against a Top 10 opponent and its first victory over Gonzaga since 2014.
During Saturday’s 54-53 win against Seattle U, Foxwell posted five points, eight rebounds, nine assists, and two steals. He made a key three-pointer in the final minute to set up Dante Censori-Hercules’ game-winning shot with less than two seconds remaining.
Foxwell currently leads the WCC in assists and is ranked first nationally among freshmen—and fourth overall—for total assists with 179. He averages 6.9 assists per game, placing him eleventh nationally and at the top among all freshmen.
The USBWA’s national player of the week program is linked to the Oscar Robertson Trophy and has selected multiple honorees each week since before the 2024-25 season. Each Tuesday during the regular season, USBWA board members select five standout players from conference nominees for recognition.
This week’s other honorees include Dylan Andrews (Boise State), Marcus Banks Jr. (Massachusetts), Quadir Copeland (NC State), and Bennett Stirtz (Iowa). Their selections were based on strong performances for their respective teams during last week’s games.
The Oscar Robertson Trophy has been awarded annually by USBWA since it was named after University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in 1998. The winner for this season will be announced at the Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis in April 2026, with an official presentation later at an awards luncheon hosted by Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Founded in 1956 at NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers’ suggestion, USBWA now counts about 800 members worldwide and remains influential within college basketball circles.
For more information about USBWA or details regarding ticket purchases for upcoming Portland Pilots events, fans can visit PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or use the Portland Pilots App. Donations supporting University of Portland Athletics are accepted online; contributions help student-athletes compete both academically and athletically.
Fans can follow updates on University of Portland athletic programs through their website or social media channels including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
