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Pac-12 Player Of The Year: Midseason candidates

By Kevin Hart

SPOKANE, WA - DECEMBER 05: Jaylen Nowell #5 of the Washington Huskies puts up a shot against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 5, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Washington 81-79. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - DECEMBER 05: Jaylen Nowell #5 of the Washington Huskies puts up a shot against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 5, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Washington 81-79. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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No. 5: McKinley Wright IV

A 3-6 record in conference play for the Colorado Buffaloes isn’t doing any favors for McKinley Wright IV. Wright, aside from Robert Franks, may the biggest snub of the team success portion of Player of the Year voting. Wright is likely the best true point guard in the conference. Including the non-con, his 4.9 assists per game is tied for third. He leads the Colorado Buffaloes with just under thirteen points per game. Wright missed most of the game when he faced Washington after Noah Dickerson came down hard on his shoulder, but has seemed to bounce back since. His ability to create for fellow Buffs Tyler Bey and Lucas Siewart have made them a pain in the neck for everyone traveling to Boulder, even if they’re win-loss doesn’t reflect it.

No. 4: KZ Okpala

Following  the loss of Reid Travis to Kentucky in the offseason, Stanford was looking for someone to fill the best scorer role he’d left vacant. Okpala has found himself within that position, improving in every measurable element of his game. Unlike Travis, Okpala is helping his scoring from beyond the arc. He’s one of only two forwards in the conference shooting 40%+ from three, and has the third-highest points per game in the Pac-12. Okpala is also the Cardinal leading rebounder. If his ability to score from anywhere on the floor while also vacuuming up rebounds on both ends wasn’t enough, Okpala also gets the charity stripe. A lot. He may be shooting less than 70%, but he’s in the top five in the conference in both shots attempted and made at the line.

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