Steinbach Named To Lute Olson National Player of The Year Award Watch List
December 22, 2025 | Men's Basketball
BOSTON – Washington freshman big man Hannes Steinbach has been named to the Early Season Watch List for the 2025-26 Lute Olson Award, presented annually to the top player in Division I college basketball.
The German international is one of 30 players overall tabbed to the prestigious list, joining USC's Chad Baker-Mazara, Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr., Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braeden Smith, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, Northwestern's Nick Martinelli and Ohio State's Bruce Thornton from fellow Big Ten institutions.
The 6-11 forward is off to a historic pace through his first eight collegiate contests, sitting as one of 20 players in the nation with six or more double doubles, despite missing three games for UW through injury.
Steinbach leads Washington at 17.5 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game. If those average hold, the Würzburg, Germany, native would become the fourth Husky all-time to average a double double for a season and the first in 56 years.
Earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week plaudits, Steinbach raised his game to another level in early Big Ten action, averaging 26.5 points, 13.0 boards and 3.0 assists against UCLA and USC.
Steinbach and the Huskies are back in action at Alaska Airlines Arena tonight, taking on San Diego at 7:00 p.m. PT. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Meant for Montlake is officially live! Catch the first five episodes of this deep dive podcast into the serendipitous, intertwining stories that brought this season's Washington team together. Brought to you by the voice of the Huskies, Tony Castricone, and presented by Colburn Law, Meant for Montlake is available at GoHuskies.com/MeantForMontlake or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow @UW_MBB on social media for the latest on the Huskies.
The German international is one of 30 players overall tabbed to the prestigious list, joining USC's Chad Baker-Mazara, Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr., Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braeden Smith, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, Northwestern's Nick Martinelli and Ohio State's Bruce Thornton from fellow Big Ten institutions.
The 6-11 forward is off to a historic pace through his first eight collegiate contests, sitting as one of 20 players in the nation with six or more double doubles, despite missing three games for UW through injury.
Steinbach leads Washington at 17.5 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game. If those average hold, the Würzburg, Germany, native would become the fourth Husky all-time to average a double double for a season and the first in 56 years.
Earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week plaudits, Steinbach raised his game to another level in early Big Ten action, averaging 26.5 points, 13.0 boards and 3.0 assists against UCLA and USC.
Steinbach and the Huskies are back in action at Alaska Airlines Arena tonight, taking on San Diego at 7:00 p.m. PT. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Meant for Montlake is officially live! Catch the first five episodes of this deep dive podcast into the serendipitous, intertwining stories that brought this season's Washington team together. Brought to you by the voice of the Huskies, Tony Castricone, and presented by Colburn Law, Meant for Montlake is available at GoHuskies.com/MeantForMontlake or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow @UW_MBB on social media for the latest on the Huskies.
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