UCLA’s Norman Powell first-team All-Pac-12; Kevon Looney all-freshman

The UCLA men’s basketball team is still fighting for an NCAA tournament berth, but where might it be without Norman Powell and Kevon Looney?

Powell, a senior guard, was chosen first-team All-Pac-12 Conference in a vote of conference coaches. Looney, a freshman forward, was selected for the second team and was an all-freshman team pick.

Guard Jordan McLaughlin of USC also made the all-freshman team despite sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury Feb. 11.

Oregon guard Joseph Young, the conference’s leading scorer, was a somewhat surprising choice as Pac-12 player of the year over Utah guard Delon Wright and Arizona guard T.J. McConnell. Dana Altman of Oregon was coach of the year.

Powell, UCLA’s defensive stopper, has averaged a team-high 16.3 points per game. Looney averages 12.3 points and 9.5 rebounds, and his 14 double-doubles are the most by a Pac-12 freshman in a season since UCLA’s Kevin Love had 23 in 2007-08.

UCLA’s Bryce Alford, a sophomore guard, received honorable mention to the all-conference team.

In the Big West Conference, Corey Hawkins, a senior guard from UC Davis, was player of the year and his coach, Jim Les, was coach of the year.

Joining Hawkins on the first team were Michael Bryson and Alan Williams of UC Santa Barbara, Mike Caffey of Long Beach State, Will Davis II of UC Irvine and Taylor Johns of UC Riverside.

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