NORMAN, Okla. -- Hollis Price, the classy guard whose clutch play helped keep Oklahoma in the hunt for a conference championship until the final weekend of the season, is the Big 12 Player of the Year as chosen by The Associated Press.

Price, a senior, was second in the league at 19.4 points per game, but his numbers told just part of the story. His toughness and leadership drove the Sooners, who finished third in the Big 12, and earned him respect throughout the conference.

"I'm not so sure he's not my favorite player in the league in my 15 years here," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "He's a great, great competitor."

In balloting by writers who regularly cover the Big 12, Price received 11 votes to edge Kansas forward Nick Collison, who had eight. Texas point guard T.J. Ford received four votes.

The freshman of the year was Antoine Wright of Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State's Tony Allen was chosen newcomer of the year.

Price is the No. 7 scorer in school history and has led Oklahoma to a 105-25 record during his four years. He helped take the Sooners to the Final Four last year, but more was asked of him this season because of the departure of high-scoring Aaron McGhee, and because forward Ebi Ere wound up struggling through much of the conference season.

Price didn't disappoint, scoring in double figures in every game but one. He wound up shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3-point range and 93 percent from the foul line. The latter two led the Big 12.

"He had a great sophomore year for a sophomore, then he had a better junior year," said Price's coach, Kelvin Sampson. "He took a team to the Final Four, carried us in a lot of games. Then he had a better senior year.

"How many players get better every year, but have significant years? He had a significant sophomore and junior year."

Other than the first meeting with Oklahoma State, when he scored six points on 2-of-14 shooting, Price was at his best in the big games. He scored a career-high 33 against Connecticut, had 23 and 22 in close losses to Texas, had 19 against Kansas and 23 in an overtime victory at home against Texas Tech.

Price made one of his most memorable plays in the Tech game, driving the length of the floor in the closing seconds and hitting an off-balance jumper at the buzzer to force overtime. He then scored five points in overtime as the Sooners won.

He had been knocked out of the game for a few minutes after getting clobbered on a fast break. He returned with a bandage under his right eye and put on a performance that left Sampson grasping for words to describe Price's play.

"Hollis Price, I don't know," Sampson said. "Look in your archives. Whatever my best stuff is, pull it out."

At just 170 pounds, Price is usually smaller than the opposing guards. But he has tremendous quickness and is tough -- he has played the past two years with a right elbow injury that requires almost daily treatment, and has been bothered this season by other nagging injuries.

His play on the court is complemented by his demeanor off it -- always cheerful and polite, and a good student.

"Hollis is just one of those kids that doesn't come along very often," Sampson said. "Everything you read or hear about him, it's true, and it may not be giving him justice."

Texas A&M's Wright was the unanimous pick as freshman of the year after averaging 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. His emergence took some of the load off teammate Bernard King and helped the Aggies go 14-13 overall, 6-10 in the league, their best records as members of the Big 12.

Allen's play was important as Oklahoma State (21-8) finished fourth in the conference at 10-6. A junior-college transfer, Allen struggled at times during conference play, but still averaged 14.7 points per game.

Allen received 13 votes, Ricky Clemons of Missouri had nine and Nate Johnson of Nebraska one.