Aaron Holiday named Pac-12 player of the week

UCLA guard Aaron Holiday (3) shoots over Kentucky guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22) in the first half of an NCAA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Scott Threlkeld)

Junior guard Aaron Holiday was named Pac-12 men’s basketball player of the week on Tuesday after he scored 20 points and tallied eight assists in UCLA’s 73-75 upset over then-No. 7 Kentucky on Saturday.

It’s his first weekly conference honor of his career. During two games this week, including UCLA’s 85-82 win over South Dakota at home last Tuesday, Holiday averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4 rebounds.

The Bruins start Pac-12 play on Friday, hosting Washington State at 8 p.m. PT, and Holiday may pass the 1,000-career points mark as he is currently just 17 points shy. His 17.6 points per game rank 10th in the conference and he is second in the Pac-12 in assists with 5.6.