Arizona freshman Lauri Markkanen was named Pac-12 Player of the Week award in voting conducted by media who cover the league. Markkanen is also one of four Pac-12 rookies on the Midseason Watch List for the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year award.
He is the first UA player to be named Player of the Week this season.
Markkanen named Player of the Week. Photo provided by Pac-12 Conference.
The 7-0 forward from Jyväskylä, Finland led Arizona in scoring (20.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg) in a road sweep of the LA schools, shooting an efficient 14-of-22 from the field (.636) and 8-of-10 (.800) behind the arc for the week.
His game-high 23 points (8-12 FG, 5-6 3FG) at USC marked the 11th game this season he has led the Wildcats in scoring. He followed up with 18 points (6-10 FG, 3-4 3FG) to help Arizona win at No. 3 UCLA for its best true road win over a ranked opponent since downing No. 1 Stanford in March 2001.
Markkanen’s performance was key to the Wildcats extending their winning streak to 12 consecutive games and remaining unbeaten in Pac-12 play (7-0). With last week’s victories, Arizona has road sweeps of both the LA and Bay Area schools in the same season for the first time since 2002-03.
Markkanen is on the midseason watch list for John R. Wooden and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year.
Information was provided by the Pac-12 Conference.
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