University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
TJ Leaf Named Pac-12 Player of the Week
December 05, 2016 | Men's Basketball
SAN FRANCISCO – UCLA freshman TJ Leaf has earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors, as announced Monday by the Pac-12 Conference office.
The 6-foot-10 forward from El Cajon, Calif., averaged 17.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in UCLA's two wins last week. He registered 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Bruins' 97-92 win at No. 1-ranked Kentucky on Saturday afternoon. Leaf shot 66.7 percent from the field through both games, making 16 of 24 shots.
Leaf has scored in double figures in each of UCLA's nine games, totaling four double-doubles. He currently ranks second in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage (67.4%), tied for sixth in rebounding (9.4 rpg) and eighth in scoring (17.2 ppg).
Leaf's strong start to his freshman season has helped UCLA to a 9-0 record, the program's best start to a season since opening the 2006-07 campaign with 14 consecutive wins. He becomes the second UCLA player to secure Pac-12 Player of the Week honors this year. Last Monday (Nov. 28), freshman Lonzo Ball earned the conference's weekly award.
In addition, the Bruins have ascended to the No. 2 spot in each of the AP and USA Today Coaches poll, as released Monday morning. This marks the highest ranking for UCLA in either poll since the week of Nov. 26, 2007, when UCLA was tabbed No. 2 in the AP poll and No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
No. 2 UCLA (9-0) returns to action at home versus Michigan (6-2) on Saturday, Dec. 10. Game time is 5 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' contest in Pauley Pavilion will be nationally televised on ESPN2, with Dave Flemming and Dan Dakich calling the action.
