By Lauren Kirschman and Theo Lawson
McClatchy News Service
SEATTLE — Washington freshman Isaiah Stewart was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and the Pac-12 All-Freshman team, the conference announced Monday.
Stewart, a five-star recruit considered the No. 3 player in the 2019 class, averaged 16.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks during the regular season. He is the first UW freshman to earn first-team honors since Markelle Fultz in 2017. He’s also the 23rd freshman to be named to the All-Freshman team, including the second under head coach Mike Hopkins to earn All-Freshman honors (Jaylen Nowell, 2018).
Stewart has started all 31 games for the Huskies. He was the Pac-12’s leading freshman scorer and rebounder during the regular season and his 13 double-doubles were the second-most in the conference. He was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week four times.
CJ Elleby picked up where Robert Franks left off at Washington State, leading the Cougars in both scoring and rebounding this season.
The standout sophomore followed in Franks’ footsteps again on Monday, joining his former teammate to become the second WSU player in as many years to earn All-Pac-12 First Team recognition when the conference announced postseason awards.
The Seattle native was one of two Cougars recognized, joining senior guard Jervae Robinson, who earned Pac-12 All-Defensive team honorable mention.
Elleby makes the jump to First Team after being named to the Pac-12’s All-Freshman team in 2018-19. The forward improved his scoring average, from 14.7 points per game to 18 this season, and grabbed 7.8 rebounds per game after averaging 7.1 as a freshman. Elleby’s scoring average ranked fourth in the conference and his rebounding average was seventh.
The Cleveland High graduate tested the NBA Draft waters following his productive freshman season but elected to return after professional scouts and coaches encouraged him to focus on his defense. Elleby didn’t take the advice for granted, totaling 1.7 steals per game – third-best in the conference – and 53 on the season. He had just 33 steals as a freshman.
The Pac-12 also announced its major award recipients:
Player of the Year: Payton Pritchard, Oregon
Freshman of the Year: Zeke Nnaji, Arizona
Defense Player of the Year: Tyler Bey, Colorado
Most Improved Player of the Year: Chris Smith, UCLA
Sixth Man of the Year: Alonzo Verge Jr., Arizona
