Texas A&M Guard Zhuric Phelps Named To Award Midseason Watch List

Phelps and 49 other college basketball stars were named to the midseason watchlist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, named after the legendary Milwaukee Bucks point guard.
Feb 1, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Zhuric Phelps (1) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Jamarii Thomas (6) in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Feb 1, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Zhuric Phelps (1) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Jamarii Thomas (6) in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images / Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
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With the success that the star power on the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team has accrued this season, individual awards should come as no surprise to the 12th Man fans.

Monday afternoon, Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps was named to the midseason watchlist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, presented annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to the national player of the year in college basketball.

Phelps showed his leadership capabilities while Wade Taylor IV battled injuries for three games last month, averaging 26 points and seven rebounds while Taylor was on the bench. His run included a 34-point showing in A&M's comeback win over Oklahoma in Norman, a career-high for the SMU transfer.

The namesake for the award since 1998 is none other than NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who had a successful tenure during his time as a Cincinnati Bearcat in college and went on to become an NBA champion in 1971 and the 1964 NBA Most Valuable Player.

Phelps joins other SEC stars such as Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) and Johni Broome (Auburn) that are on the watchlist for the award.

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Feb 1, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Wade Taylor IV (4) drives against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images / Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Should Phelps go as far as to win the award, he would be the first Texas A&M player to be graced with the award.

The Oscar Robertson Trophy winner will be announced at USBWA Awards Luncheon, hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis during the Final Four in early April.

One more watchlist is set to be released in late March, and the voters will choose a winner based on that list.

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Aaron Raley
AARON RALEY

Aaron Raley is a credentialed writer covering the Texas A&M Aggies for On SI, joining the team on May 27, 2024. Born and raised in Northeast Texas, Aaron is a senior journalism major at Texas A&M University and is also minoring in history and sports management. Aaron’s writing abilities are driven by his love and passion for various sports, both at the collegiate and professional level, as well as his experience in playing sports, especially baseball and football.