TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona freshman forward
Zeke Nnaji was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the conference office announced on Monday. He was also named All-Pac-12 First Team and the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team in voting conducted by the 12 head coaches of the conference.
Nnaji is the fifth Wildcat to be named the top freshman in head coach
Sean Miller's 11 years in Tucson, the most in the Pac-12 in that span, and the 10
th overall since the award began in 1983-84. In addition, Nnaji will be the 27
th player to have his name added to the Ring of Honor in the McKale Center after his career at Arizona is complete as a result of his freshman of the year honor. A list of the 27 Arizona Ring of Honor inductees is at the bottom of this release.
In Pac-12 play, Nnaji was the conference leader in rebounds (9.2) and finished seventh in scoring (16.1). He shot 50.3 percent from the floor, which ranked 16
th in the conference. He also averaged 3.3 offensive rebounds per game, the second-most in the Pac-12. Overall, his 14 double-doubles on the season led the Pac-12 and tied for third nationally among all freshmen.
Another freshman,
Nico Mannion, was named Second Team All-Pac-12 and was also on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. The Siena, Italy native finished second in the conference in assists (5.4) and 16
th in scoring at 14.0 points per game. He also ranked second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.06). He closed the regular season shooting 81.0 percent from the free throw line to rank 10th among all Pac-12 players.
Since Miller's arrival in Tucson prior to the 2009-10 season, Arizona has had 24 players named to the first or second team all-conference, the most in the Pac-12.
Redshirt senior
Dylan Smith earn All-Defensive Team Honorable Mention accolades. Smith was regularly tasked with defending the opposing team's best perimeter player while also shooting 37.2 percent from behind the 3-point line.
The Wildcats will take on Washington on Wednesday in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The game is scheduled to begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks.
ALL-PAC-12 TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Oscar da Silva (STAN)
CJ Elleby (WSU)
Remy Martin (ASU)
Zeke Nnaji (ARIZ)
Onyeka Okongwu (USC)
Payton Pritchard (ORE)
Chris Smith (UCLA)
Isaiah Stewart (WASH)
Tres Tinkle (OSU)
McKinley Wright IV (COLO)
SECOND TEAM
Timmy Allen (UTAH)
Tyler Bey (COLO)
Matt Bradley (CAL)
Nico Mannion (ARIZ)
Jonah Mathews (USC)
Honorable Mention: Chris Duarte (ORE), Tyrell Terry (STAN), Alonzo Verge (ASU)
PAC-12 ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Nico Mannion (ARIZ)
Zeke Nnaji (ARIZ)
Onyeka Okongwu (USC)
Isaiah Stewart (WASH)
Tyrell Terry (STAN)
Honorable Mention: Jaime Jaquez (UCLA)
PAC-12 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Tyler Bey (COLO)
Kylor Kelley (OSU)
Jonah Mathews (USC)
Bryce Wills (STAN)
McKinley Wright IV (COLO)
Honorable Mention: Chris Duarte (ORE), Jalen Hill (UCLA), Jervae Robinson (WSU),
Dylan Smith (ARIZ)
Arizona Ring of Honor
Bob Elliott 1973-1977
Steve Kerr 1983-1988
Sean Elliott 1985-1989
Jud Buechler 1986-1990
Sean Rooks 1989-1992
Chris Mills 1990-1993
Khalid Reeves 1990-1994
Damon Stoudamire 1991-1995
Miles Simon 1994-1998
Jason Terry 1995-1999
Mike Bibby 1996-1998
Michael Wright 1998-2001
Richard Jefferson 1999-2001
Jason Gardner 1999-2003
Luke Walton 1998-2003
Salim Stoudamire 2002-2005
Gilbert Arenas 1999-2001
Chase Budinger 2006-2009
Derrick Williams 2009-2011
Andre Iguodala 2002-2004
Nick Johnson 2011-2014
Aaron Gordon 2013-2014
Channing Frye 2001-2005
Stanley Johnson 2014-2015
Jerryd Bayless 2007-2008
Deandre Ayton 2017-2018
Zeke Nnaji 2019-2020
