University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA freshman Lonzo Ball
Ball Named National Freshman of the Year
March 07, 2017 | Men's Basketball
UCLA guard Lonzo Ball has earned National Freshman of the Year honors from USA Today and Sporting News, as announced by the publications on Tuesday.
Ball, a 6-foot-6 guard from Chino Hills, Calif., has averaged 14.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game during his freshman campaign. Ball has led the nation in assists per game (6.2) and total assists (241). In fact, he has already established the Pac-12's freshman assists record (241) and ranks seventh on the conference's single-season assist list. Arizona State's Ahlon Lewis owns that single-season record, having dished 294 assists for Arizona State in 1997-98.
Ball also ranks second in the Pac-12 in steals (2.0 spg), 14th in scoring (14.9 ppg) and 16th in rebounding (6.2 rpg). The freshman guard is on pace to become the first Pac-12 player to have averaged at least 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds in one season since California's Jason Kidd accomplished that feat as a sophomore at California in 1993-94.
One of five players to earn first-team national All-America honors by Sporting News on Monday, Ball was joined on that list by North Carolina's Justin Jackson, Villanova's Josh Hart, Kansas' Frank Mason III and Purdue's Caleb Swanigan. He has already been honored as the Pac-12's Freshman of the Year in addition to earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Ball was also selected as a first-team All-America selection by USA Today.
In addition, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) has selected Ball as its District IX Player of the Year. Ball and UCLA classmate TJ Leaf are two of 10 players in District IX to have secured all-district acclaim. Leaf has averaged 16.3 points, 8.4 rebound and 2.5 assists per game in 30 contests as a freshman.
Ball has helped lead UCLA to a 28-3 overall record, as the Bruins have tied the school record for most regular-season wins (28).
Ranked No. 3 in the AP and USA Today Coaches polls this week, UCLA will return to action in the Pac-12 Tournament's quarterfinal round on Thursday night in Las Vegas (T-Mobile Arena). The Bruins will play at 8:30 p.m. (PT) against the winner of Wednesday's first-round meeting between No. 6-seed USC and No. 11-seed Washington. UCLA's game will be nationally televised on ESPN this Thursday.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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