SAN MATEO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference has named its University Credit Union Men’s Basketball Player and Freshman of the Week for January 11, 2021.
UCU #WCCHOOPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – JOEL AYAYI, JR., G – GONZAGA
Junior guard Joel Ayayi recorded the first triple-double in program history in Saturday’s win at Portland. He scored all 12 of his points in the first half, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out a career-high 14 assists. The redshirt junior nearly achieved the feat in the first half versus the Pilots with 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He reached the triple-double with an assist at the 17-minute mark of the second half.
Ayayi’s 14 assists were the second-most in program history, and the most since Blake Stepp’s record of 16 in 2002. Most impressively, Ayayi’ 14 assists came with no turnovers in 28 minutes of action. Ayayi’s triple-double was the first in the West Coast Conference this season, and first since Loyola Marymount’s Eli Scott had one versus Grambling last season on Dec. 7. It’s the first triple-double in a WCC game since BYU’s Kyle Collinsworth achieved the feat versus Portland in 2016.
Against BYU Thursday, Ayayi scored eight points and made six assists with one turnover. The Frenchman shot 57 percent from the field during the week and made all four free-throws. His 8.08-rebound average ranks third in the conference, and is the most by a guard in program history. Ayayi is second in the WCC in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.40) and fifth averaging 1.33 steals per game.
Ayayi earns weekly honors for the second straight week and is the fifth different Bulldog selected as the UCU WCC Player of the Week – through seven weeks.
Also Nominated: Logan Johnson, Saint Mary’s; Keyshawn Justice, Santa Clara; Eli Scott, LMU; Khalil Shabazz, San Francisco
UCU #WCCHOOPS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – JALEN SUGGS, FR., G – GONZAGA
Freshman guard Jalen Suggs scored 27 points on 52.9 percent (9-of-17) shooting from the field, had eight assists, made seven steals and grabbed seven rebounds in a pair of West Coast Conference wins for the top-ranked Zags. Against BYU, he scored 16 points with five assists, five rebounds and four steals. At Portland, the freshman had 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting, adding three assists and three steals.
Suggs currently leads the WCC in steals (2.60), which is 16
th in the nation. He is third in the league in assists (5.10), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.96), and sixth in field goal percentage (53.7).
This is the fourth freshman of the week honor for Suggs so far this season and the fifth in seven weeks for the Bulldogs.
Also Nominated: None
2020-21 UCU #WCCHOOPS Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
January 11: Joel Ayayi, Gonzaga
January 4: Joel Ayayi, Gonzaga
December 28: Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
December 21: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
December 14: Ahmed Ali, Portland
December 7: Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
November 30: Drew Timme, Gonzaga
2020-21 UCU #WCCHOOPS Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week
January 11: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
January 4: Oumar Ballo, Gonzaga
December 28: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
December 21: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
December 14: Caleb Lohner, BYU
December 7: Leemet Böckler, Saint Mary’s
November 30: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga