INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. —  In an effort to expand coverage of the men's game and to further highlight standout players both at power-conference schools and in the mid-major ranks, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association executive board introduced an additional piece of coverage for the 2025-26 season: the Oscar Robertson National Players of the Month. High Point University men's basketball player Rob Martin was voted the mid-major player of the month while the University of Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. was voted the high-major player of the month.
 
Mid-Major Player of the Month: Rob Martin, High Point
When we think of the magic of March, Rob Martin fits the description to a T. A diminutive bucket-getter who isn't afraid of the moment and helps a mid-major team pull a Cinderella upset. That's what Martin did when he went for 23 points, 10 assists and two blocks in High Point's riveting 83-82 win over No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAAs on March 19. 
 
For as great as that game was, the 5-10 senior point guard from St. Louis was positively electric in High Point's second round loss to Arkansas, tossing up 30 points and trading blows with none other than his high-major honoree for the month of March, Darius Acuff Jr.

Martin had some big-time competition for this honor (Cal Baptist's Dominique Daniels Jr., VCU's Terrence Hill Jr. and Penn's TJ Power also received a lot of support), but it was High Point's push combined with Martin's crowd-pleasing performances that got him over the top. The slithery Panthers point guard averaged 22.2 points and 6.0 assists for the Big South champs in March, who put up 83.6 points in the final month of the season and earned a No. 12 seed after going 31-5, including an 18-1 mark against conference foes. Flynn Clayman's first season running a program was one of the more successful debuts we've seen in the past 40 years in college basketball, and it was made possible by bringing on Martin, who transferred for his senior season after playing at Southeast Missouri State a year ago.
 
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.
 
2025-26 USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Players of the Month
• November: Cameron Boozer, Duke (HIgh-Major); Delrecco Gillespie, Kent State (Mid-Major).
• December: AJ Dybantsa, BYU (HIgh-Major); Cruz Davis, Hofstra (Mid-Major).
• January: Keaton Wagler, Illinois (HIgh-Major); Dominique Daniels Jr., California Baptist (Mid-Major).
• February: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (HIgh-Major); Aidan Kehoe, Navy (Mid-Major).
• March: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (High-Major); Rob Martin, High Point (Mid-Major).