Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf, Bryce Alford named first-team All-Pac-12


Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Bryce Alford were among 10 players named first-team All-Pac-12 on Monday. Among a deep field, Ball also earned the conference’s Freshman of the Year award. Oregon junior Dillon Brooks took home Pac-12 Player of the Year honors.

UCLA’s third-place finish behind conference co-champions Oregon and Arizona likely cost Ball a shot at Pac-12 Player of the Year, but UCLA’s freshman point guard is already plenty decorated. Ball averaged 14.9 points, a nation-leading 7.8 assists and 6.2 rebounds this season, likely to be his only one in college.

Ball and Leaf were among five named to the Pac-12’s All-Freshman team along with Washington’s Markelle Fultz and Arizona’s Lauri Markkannen, who both made first-team All-Pac-12 as well.

Oregon’s Jordan Bell earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. USC’s Chimezie Metu was awarded Most Improved Player and Arizona’s Sean Miller was given the Pac-12 Coach of the Year award.

Bruins junior center Thomas Welsh earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors. Ball and UCLA sophomore guard Aaron Holiday were honorable mention selections for the all-defensive team.

FIRST TEAM
Bryce Alford UCLA G Sr. 6-3 185 Albuquerque, N.M. (La Cueva HS)
Lonzo Ball UCLA G Fr. 6-6 190 Chino Hills, Calif. (Chino Hills HS)
Dillon Brooks ORE F Jr. 6-7 225 Mississauga, Ont. (Findlay Prep NV)
Markelle Fultz WASH G Fr. 6-4 195 Upper Marlboro, Md. (DeMatha HS)
Kyle Kuzma UTAH F Jr. 6-9 221 Flint, Mich. (Bentley HS)
TJ Leaf UCLA F Fr. 6-10 225 El Cajon, Calif. (Foothills Christian HS)
Lauri Markkanen ARIZ F Fr. 7-0 230 Jvvaskyla, Finland (Helskinki Academy)
Ivan Rabb CAL F So. 6-11 220 Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O’Dowd HS)
Reid Travis STAN F Jr. 6-8 245 Minneapolis, Minn. (DeLaSalle HS)
Derrick White COLO G Sr. 6-5 200 Parker, Colo. (UC-Colorado Springs)

SECOND TEAM
Kadeem Allen ARIZ G R-Sr. 6-3 205 Wilmington, N.C. (Hutchinson CC)
Jordan Bell ORE F Jr. 6-9 225 Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly HS)
Josh Hawkinson WSU F Sr. 6-10 230 Shoreline, Wash. (Shorewood HS)
Chimezie Metu USC F So. 6-11 225 Lawndale, Calif. (Lawndale HS)
Allonzo Trier ARIZ G So. 6-5 205 Seattle, Wash. (Rainier Beach HS)

Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes): Jabari Bird (CAL, Sr., G), Chris Boucher (ORE, Sr., F), Tyler Dorsey (ORE, So. G), Drew Eubanks (OSU, So., F), Torian Graham (ASU, Sr., G), Jordan McLaughlin (USC, Jr., G), Thomas Welsh (UCLA, Jr., F).

PAC-12 ALL-FRESHMEN TEAM
Rawle Alkins ARIZ G 6-5 220 Brooklyn, N.Y. (Word of God Academy)
Lonzo Ball UCLA G 6-6 190 Chino Hills, Calif. (Chino Hills HS)
Markelle Fultz WASH G 6-4 195 Upper Marlboro, Md. (DeMatha Catholic HS)
TJ Leaf UCLA F 6-10 225 El Cajon, Calif. (Foothills Christian HS)
Lauri Markkanen ARIZ F 7-0 230 Jyvaskyla, Finland (Helsinki Academy)
Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes): Malachi Flynn (WSU, G), Charlie Moore (CAL, G).

PAC-12 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Kadeem Allen ARIZ G R-Sr. 6-3 205 Wilmington, N.C. (Hutchinson CC)
Marcus Allen STAN G Sr. 6-3 190 Las Vegas, Nev. (Centennial HS)
Jordan Bell ORE F Jr. 6-9 225 Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly HS)
Chris Boucher ORE F Sr. 6-10 200 Montreal, Quebec (Northwest College [WY])
Derrick White COLO G Sr. 6-5 200 Parker, Colo. (UC-Colorado Springs)

Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes): Lonzo Ball (UCLA, Fr., G), Aaron Holiday (UCLA, So., G), Kyle Kuzma (UTAH, Jr., F), De’Anthony Melton (USC, Fr., G), Kingsley Okoroh (CAL, Jr., G).