Lamar Wilkerson is making a habit of standing out-and the Big Ten is taking notice. For the second time this season, the Indiana redshirt senior guard has been named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz. And if you’ve been watching Wilkerson lately, this recognition feels more like confirmation than surprise.
Wilkerson put together a monster week, averaging 29 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 steals across two games that showcased both his scoring prowess and his clutch gene. The Hoosiers may have split the results-falling at USC and edging out Wisconsin in overtime-but Wilkerson was the constant force keeping Indiana in the fight.
Let’s start with the USC game. Wilkerson dropped 33 points on the Trojans, the most by a Hoosier in a road game since Jalen Hood-Schifino’s 35-point explosion at Purdue back in 2023.
It was Wilkerson’s third 30-point game of the season-no Indiana player has had more in a single year since Trayce Jackson-Davis notched four during the 2022-23 campaign. Add in four rebounds and three steals, and it was a complete performance even in a losing effort.
Then came the Wisconsin thriller. Wilkerson poured in 25 points and came up huge when it mattered most.
With the Hoosiers trailing late, he calmly sank two free throws with 16 seconds left to force overtime. And once they got there?
It was the Lamar Wilkerson show. He scored all six of Indiana’s points in the extra frame-including the game-winning free throws with under two seconds remaining.
It’s not just a hot week-it’s part of a historic run. Through 13 Big Ten games, Wilkerson is averaging 23.2 points per contest.
That’s the highest scoring average by a Hoosier in conference play since George McGinnis put up a staggering 29.9 points per game during the 1970-71 season. That’s elite company.
This marks Wilkerson’s second Big Ten Player of the Week nod this season-he also earned the honor back on December 15. He joins teammate Tucker DeVries, who picked up Co-Player of the Week honors earlier in the year, as Hoosiers who’ve caught the conference’s eye.
Bottom line: Lamar Wilkerson isn’t just playing well-he’s playing like a star. And if he keeps up this pace, Indiana’s ceiling this season might be higher than anyone expected.