Washington basketball: Jamal Bey named Pac-12 POTW

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 24: Jamal Bey #5 of the Washington Huskies reacts after his three point basket against the Utah Utes during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena on January 24, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 24: Jamal Bey #5 of the Washington Huskies reacts after his three point basket against the Utah Utes during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena on January 24, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

After a 28-point explosion against Utah to help the Huskies secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Jamal Bey has been named the Pac-12 Player of the Week. He’s the first Washington basketball player to earn the honor this season.Bey was more aggressive on offense than he’d ever been against Utah. That performance in a 83-79 home win on Sunday included 10-of-11 shooting and a perfect 4-for-4 from three.

“I’ve never had a game this efficient before, never,” he said Sunday. “My teammates were finding me, every shot I put up pretty much felt good so I thought, ‘OK, if I’m open I’m gonna shoot it,’ and it was helping our team so kept doing it.”

Last Wednesday, Bey chipped in 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks in a similar efficient performance, snapping Colorado’s six-game win streak and immediately elevating the mood of a struggling Huskies team.

Bey’s rise has been more and more apparent as he has adjusted to shooting at a higher volume and grown in confidence. Since Jan. 7 against Stanford, he’s averaging 15.3 points per game on 57% shooting, far and away the most efficient on the UW roster as of right now.

Bey and the Huskies next face Washington State at home on Jan. 31. The Cougs are in the middle of a 5-game losing streak, while UW is coming off two straight.