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UCLA's Leaf earns Pac-12 weekly award, third straight freshman honored

Dec 5, 2016

Pac-12 Men's Basketball Player of the Week (12/5/16) - TJ Leaf, Fr., F, UCLA

Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award nominee TJ Leaf recorded a pair of double-doubles last week to help UCLA improve to 9-0, its best start in a decade, and climb to No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25, its highest ranking since Nov. 2007.

• Leaf averaged 17.5 points on 67 percent shooting (16-24) and 11.5 rebounds while adding 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in 29.5 minutes in the Bruins' two victories. His impressive week was capped by a 17-point, 13-rebound, 5-assist performance in UCLA's 97-92 upset of No. 1 Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Saturday.

The 6-10 forward from El Cajon, Calif., is ranked in the top 10 in the Pac-12 in scoring (8th, 17.2 ppg), rebounding (6th, 9.4 rpg) and field goal percentage (2nd, 67.4% FG).

• Leaf's award marks the first time since the creation of the Conference's weekly award in 1983 that freshmen have earned the honor in three consecutive weeks (2016-17: TJ LeafLonzo Ball, Charlie Moore). The three weekly honors by freshmen so far this season also matches the fourth-most by rookies in one season in league history (7 - 2007-08; 4 - 2014-15, 2006-07; 3 - 2016-17, 1995-96, 1989-90).

ALSO NOMINATED: Lauri Markkanen, ARIZONA; Ivan Rabb, CALIFORNIA; Tyler Dorsey, OREGON; Drew Eubanks, OREGON STATE; Chimezie Metu, USC; Markelle Fultz, WASHINGTON.

2016-17 PAC-12 MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

 Week of Player
Nov. 14 Tres Tinkle, Oregon State
Nov. 21 Charlie Moore, California
Nov. 28 Lonzo Ball, UCLA
Dec. 5 TJ Leaf, UCLA