SAN MATEO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference has named its University Credit Union Men’s Basketball Player and Freshman of the Week for January 25, 2021.
UCU #WCCHOOPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – KESSLER EDWARDS, JR., F – PEPPERDINE
Junior forward Kessler Edwards had a pair of double-doubles, averaged 24.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, and scored a career-high 37 points in a win against Pacific this week.
Edwards had his second career 30-point game on Thursday against the Tigers, with career highs of six three-pointers and nine free throws, while adding 11 rebounds. The 37 points have been the most by any WCC player this season. Edwards also scored his 1,000th career point in the game against Pacific (becoming the 44th Wave ever to reach that milestone). He then had an 11-point, 10-rebound effort at BYU on Saturday.
They were his first two double-doubles of the season, the 13th and 14th of his career, and the third time he's had consecutive double-doubles.
Edwards is averaging team highs of 18.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
Also Nominated: Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco; Matt Haarms, BYU; Logan Johnson, Saint Mary’s; Josh Parrish, San Diego; Eli Scott, LMU; Drew Timme, Gonzaga
UCU #WCCHOOPS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – JALEN SUGGS, FR., G – GONZAGA
Freshman guard Jalen Suggs nearly had a triple-double in Gonzaga’s victory over Pacific, which would have just been the Zags’ second-ever triple-double after teammate Joel Ayayi achieved the feat on Jan. 9. Suggs scored nine points Saturday, had a game-high 11 rebounds, and dished out eight assists. His 11 rebounds were a career-high, and his eight assists matched a career-best.
Suggs leads the West Coast Conference in steals per game (2.31). The freshman is also third in the WCC in assists per game (4.92), fifth in field goal percentage (51.9 percent), and 14
th in scoring (13.92).
This is the sixth freshman of the week honor for Suggs so far this season and the seventh in nine weeks for the Bulldogs.
Also Nominated: None
2020-21 UCU #WCCHOOPS Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
January 25: Kessler Edwards, Pepperdine
January 18: Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
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 25: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
January 18: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
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