Men's Basketball

Flashes' Gillespie Collects UBSWA Player of the Month Honors

Story courtesy of the US Basketball Writers Association

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association is proud and excited to unveil a new monthly feature for the 2025-26 season. At the beginning of each month the association will be awarding two Oscar Robertson Player of the Month honors. One will go to a player at a high-major program, the other at a mid-major school. This will continue to spotlight big-time performers and add a little more attention and recognition beyond our five-man Player of the Week spotlights.

The hope is that the winners for November, December, January and February also add to the conversation about All-America teams and the Oscar Robertson Trophy race as well. Player-of-the-month awards are commonplace in American professional sports leagues; college basketball is now in on that as well with this new program.

The monthly awards are voted on by the USBWA’s 11-person executive board. Here are the inaugural winners for November:

Mid-Major Player of the Month: Kent State senior Delrecco Gillespie

There were a lot of mid-major standouts in November, but few had the statistical impact and a direct correlation to winning like Gillespie. Kent State is off to a 7-1 start, its best in six years, primarily because of the 6-foot-8, 230-pound interior force that is Delrecco Gillespie. Through the first four weeks, Gillespie’s averaging 19.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 60.8% from the field. His rebound average is No. 2 in men’s college basketball and he’s the only player in the country averaging more than 11.0 rebounds and 16.0 points. 

The MAC could prove to be one of the better mid-major races by the time we get to February. Gillespie’s prowess in the paint and around the rim will be crucial for Kent State’s push to a third NCAA Tournament bid under coach Rob Senderoff.

And in an era where a lot of players are looking to make a splash and cash in at a new spot, Gillespie bucks the trend. He’s a four-year player for Kent State. His numbers have improved across the board every season – with a spike right away in this, his senior campaign in the MAC. Gillespie and Kent State’s next game comes Wednesday night at home against Austin Peay.