Troy University Athletics
Valdes Named Sun Belt Player of the Week
1/20/2026 2:00:00 PM | Basketball (M)
NEW ORLEANS, La. - After playing a key role in two Troy wins, Victor Valdes was named Sun Belt Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
Valdes averaged 18.0 points, 8.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in blowout victories over Southern Miss and Arkansas State.
"Victor is very deserving of winning Player of the Week," head coach Scott Cross said. "Victor will be a huge part of any success that we have down the road, and I am very glad that he received this very deserving recognition this week!"
Valdes delivered his most impressive performance on Saturday in a pivotal Sun Belt game against Arkansas State. Valdes racked up 14 assists while scoring 17 points, six rebounds, three steals, and three blocks for his first career double-double.
The double-double was just the second this season in the Sun Belt with points and assists and the first accomplished during conference play. Valdes's 14 assists are tied for the third-most by a Troy player since the 2005-06 season and represent one of only 15 games this season in Division I where a player totaled 14 or more assists.
"To have 17 points and 14 assists is absolutely amazing," added Cross. However, the thing that had me the most fired up after watching the film was the way that he defended and rebounded. This was his most well-rounded basketball game, and it shows what he's capable of in the future!"
Against Southern Miss on Wednesday, the Monterrey, Mexico native scored 19 points and carried a game-high plus-minus of 24.
Valdes currently leads the Trojans in scoring at 15.9 points per game, and is second in the Sun Belt with 4.9 assists per game.
This marks Valdes' first Sun Belt Player of the Week honor of his career and the second time a Troy player has earned the award this season. Cooper Campbell claimed the Trojans' first Player of the Week honor earlier this year.
Troy is set for two Sun Belt road contests this week, beginning with a matchup at Old Dominion on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT, before traveling to Georgia Southern on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.
