Arizona Wildcats forward Zeke Nnaji named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
Nov 11, 2019, 6:07 PM
Arizona forward Zeke Nnaji (22) dunks over Northern Arizona's Bernie Andre (10), Luke Avdalovic (21) and Isaiah Lewis (14) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Wildcats freshman forward Zeke Nnaji didn’t need long to prove that he can play at the college level.
On Monday, Nnaji became the first-ever recipient of the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week award.
The freshman averaged 19.5 points and 4.5 boards per game while shooting 75% (18-of-24) from the field en route to two Wildcats wins.
Nnaji broke out for 20 points in Arizona’s 91-52 victory over Northern Arizona in the season opener.
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The feat is the most by any Wildcats freshman under Sean Miller and the most in a freshman debut since Hassan Adams posted 22 points in 2002.
Nnaji would follow up his first collegiate game with a 19-point performance in a 90-96 victory over visiting Illinois.
This might not be the last time an Arizona freshman receives the award this year, either, as the freshman trio of Nnaji, Josh Green and Nico Mannion has combined for 101 of the team’s 181 total points this season (58.9%).
The Wildcats now find themselves with a 2-0 record and sitting at No. 19 in the AP Top 25 poll.
