Player of the Week
Caleb Love (Arizona)
The Wildcats have maintained one of the top spots in the NCAA weekly rankings and credit has to go to Caleb Love. The UNC transfer has created a ton of offense for Arizona and this week may have been his best yet. In a 83-80 loss against Oregon State, Love had 23 points and 3 assists while shooting 6/12 from the field. He also shot 9/10 from the free throw line. He followed this up with a 30 point outing against Oregon. He finished with 36 points on 12/18 shooting from the field and 5/8 shooting from deep. Since transferring, Love has played the best basketball of his life.
Who’s Hot
Keion Brooks Jr. (Washington)
Keion Brooks Jr. has been one of the most consistent players in the Pac-12 and brings his scoring every night. In a week where the Huskies finished 1-1, it was no different. During a 98-81 loss to Colorado, he played 35 minutes and scored 22 points. He also added five rebounds and an assist during this disappointing loss for Washington. They bounced back against Utah, blowing them out 98-73. Brooks Jr. scored 27 points and grabbed 4 rebounds while shooting 10/17 from the field. The 6’7” senior is averaging 20.6 points per night, good enough for first in the conference.
Isaac Jones (Washington State)
Washington State has been great to start the year and while freshman Myles Rice has been getting a lot of the attention, Isaac Jones has been great. He had two double doubles this week and the Cougars got two wins against conference opponents. In a 79-57 win against Utah, Jones finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Four of the rebounds came from the offensive side of the ball which created countless opportunities for the Cougars to score the ball. Washington State then beat a good Colorado team, 78-69. Jones had 13 points and 11 rebounds to keep the team’s win streak going. He also didn’t turn the ball over once throughout the contest.
Who’s Not
USC Trojans
The Trojans are on a five game losing streak and got blown out in both of their matchups this week. During a 82-67 loss to Arizona State, the team shot 56% from the free throw line and had 22 turnovers on the night. Their leading scorer had a measly 14 points and it’s clear that they were missing freshman phenom Isaiah Collier and veteran guard Boogie Ellis. They followed this up with another loss to their rival UCLA who’s also having a down year.
During this 65-50 loss, the team shot badly from the field and free throw line which ultimately killed their chances of winning the contest. Injuries and underwhelming play have killed what was a promising season for USC.
Top 5 High School Recruits Committed to Pac-12 Schools
1. Carter Bryant (Committed to Arizona)
Carter Bryant is a four star forward that is committed to play under Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats next season. He was just named a Mcdonald’s All-American and is one of the most hyped prospects in the class, coming in at #18 on 247 Sports rankings.
2. Zoom Diallo (Committed to Washington)
Even with offers to play for other Pac-12 teams, Zoom Diallo chose Washington as his next home. The 6’4” point guard is a four star prospect and ranks in the top 35 of high school recruits for next season.
3. Jamari Phillips (Committed to Arizona)
Arizona has established itself as one of the top basketball programs in the country which is why it’s not a surprise to see many of the top prospects commit to the Wildcats. Jamari Phillips is another four star that could fill a position of need for the Wildcats next season. He’s a 6’3” guard for Dream City Christian, a school in Arizona.
4. Trent Perry (Committed to USC)
With USC struggling to get a win this year and a lot of their guard depth leaving next year, Trent Perry could very well come in and contribute quickly. He’s a four star point guard from California who stands at 6’4” and weighs 175 pounds.
5. Vyctorius Miller (Committed to Oregon)
Oregon has been one of the best teams in the Pac-12 this year and Vyctorius Miller will look to help them keep moving forward. He’s a four star guard who received offers from various other schools but chose to join the Ducks.