The standout player selected as the national player of the week in men’s college basketball for the second week of the season is John Tonje from Wisconsin.
With all five starters from the previous year departing, the Badgers were in search of a leader, and Tonje has risen to the occasion early in the season.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall, Tonje transferred from Missouri after completing four seasons at Colorado State.
He made a notable entrance in Madison, starting the season with a remarkable 23-point performance against Holy Cross and following that up by being virtually unstoppable in a high-scoring 103-88 victory over No. 17 Arizona last week.
In this game, he scored an impressive 41 points—just two shy of the Wisconsin record—while shooting 4 for 6 from beyond the arc and 21 for 22 at the free-throw line.
Tonje is currently averaging 23.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, playing a significant role in helping Wisconsin secure its first ranking of the season in the AP Top 25.

The runner-up for this week’s accolade is Trey Kaufman-Renn from Purdue.
Following the exit of two-time AP player of the year Zach Edey, the Boilermakers were faced with a significant void.
Although the 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward cannot match Edey’s towering 7-foot-4, 300-pound stature, Kaufman-Renn has successfully embraced a more prominent role within the team.
He is currently averaging 18 points and 6.3 rebounds, a marked increase from his previous season average of 6.4 points.
His standout performance came against No. 8 Alabama, where he contributed 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in an impressive 87-78 victory that propelled Purdue up seven spots to rank sixth this week.

Also receiving honorable mentions are Ante Brzovic from the College of Charleston, Kam Jones from Marquette, and Abdi Bashir Jr. from Monmouth.
In addition, fans should keep an eye on Andrew Carr from Kentucky.
At 6 feet 11 inches and 235 pounds, the graduate student played a crucial role in the Wildcats’ triumph over No. 12 Duke during the Champions Classic in Atlanta.
Carr logged 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block in the 77-72 victory, which enabled No. 9 Kentucky to climb ten spots in the current rankings.
The Wake Forest transfer is averaging 13 points and 3.7 rebounds during Mark Pope’s inaugural season in Lexington.