Kansas senior power forward David McCormack and Kansas State senior center Ayoka Lee have been selected as Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball scholar-athletes of the year respectively via a vote of the league’s coaches.
2022 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
David McCormack, Kansas, Sr., Norfolk, Va.
Communication studies graduate who is pursuing a master’s in Digital Content Strategy with a 3.50 GPA and 100 percent participation.
Helped Kansas to a national title, averaging 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds on the season.
Earned 2022 All-Big 12 Third Team honors and is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection (2020, 2021 and 2022).
2022 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State, Jr., Byron, Minn.
Major in Family Studies & Human Service with a 4.00 GPA and participated in 100 percent of this year’s contests.
Consensus All-American who set an NCAA Division I single-game record with 61 points on January 23.
Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2020, 2021 and 2022).
2022 Big 12 Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Ana Bertozzi, Fresno State, Jr., Leesburg, Va.
Animal Science-Pre-Veterinary major with a 4.00 GPA and participated in every competition this season.
Won six meets on fences with one MOP and was victorious five times on the flat.
Two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection (2021 and 2022).
2022 Big 12 Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Laura Cooke, Iowa State, Jr., Norwich, England
Majoring in kinesiology and health with a 3.97 GPA and 100 percent participation.
Helped Iowa State reach the second round of the NCAA Regionals, scoring a 9.850 on bars and a 9.750 on floor at the meet.
A two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2021 and 2022) plus was named WCGA Scholastic All-American.
2022 Big 12 Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jake Foster, Texas, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio
Biology major with a 4.00 GPA and 100 percent participation.
Six-time All-American who helped the Longhorns to a runner-up finish at the 2022 NCAA Championship.
Two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American and two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 Team (2021, 2022).
2022 Big 12 Women’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Kate Steward, Kansas, Sr., Bartlesville, Okla.
Elementary education major that holds a 4.00 GPA and 100 percent participation this season.
Holds the Kansas school record in the 100 breaststroke and qualified to compete in three events at the 2022 NCAA Championships.
Selected to the 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2021 and 2022).
2022 Big 12 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Clay Carlson, South Dakota State, Jr., Willmar, Minn.
Earning a degree in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine with a 3.92 GPA and 100 percent participation.
Placed third in the 141-weight class at the Big 12 Championship and was selected for the 2022 NCAA Championship.
Named Big 12 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2021 and a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree (2020, 2021 and 2022).
The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution nominates one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team’s scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.