BYU was well represented when the West Coast Conference awards were announced Tuesday morning, as voted on by the league’s 10 coaches.
Seniors Alex Barcello, Brandon Averette and Matt Haarms earned All-WCC honors, with Barcello earning a spot on the first team and Averette and Haarms being named to the second team. Haarms was voted Defensive Player of the Year and Caleb Lohner was named to the All-WCC freshman team.
Haarms is the first Cougar to win the WCC Defensive Player of the Year award. He is the first to be named a conference defensive player of the year since Jackson Emery accomplished the feat in the Mountain West Conference honor in 2011.
BYU has had 15 players named to WCC all-conference teams since 2012.
As for the rest of the conference, Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert was named the WCC Player of the Year while Mark Few earned Coach of the Year honors (extending his WCC record to 14).
Also, the Zags’ Andrew Nembhard received the inaugural Sixth Man of the Year award and freshman Jalen Suggs was named the Newcomer of the Year.
Barcello led BYU in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game, and he’s shooting 48.9% from 3-point range, ninth-best in the country. Barcello had a career night last Thursday against San Francisco as he scored 29 points and set a school record by hitting 7 of 7 3-pointers. He averaged 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Barcello is shooting 53% from the floor and 84% from the free throw line.
Averette averaged 11.4 points, 3.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds and established a reputation for hitting clutch shots. He delivered huge buckets both at San Diego State and at Saint Mary’s. Averette scored 30 points against Texas Southern.
Haarms has blocked 43 shots this season and affected many other shots as one of the nation’s top rim-protectors. He’s recorded five blocks in two of his last three games. Against Portland, Haarms went 9 of 9 from the floor in a game. The only player to have more made baskets in a row without a miss was All-American Kresimir Cosic in 1971.
Lohner led BYU in rebounding, averaging 6.8 per game. He’s improved as the season has progressed. Lohner scored a career-high 19 points at Pacific on Feb. 18 and then scored 18 points at Loyola Marymount two days later. Lohner earned WCC Freshman of the Week honors twice this season.
BYU (19-5, 10-3) concluded its regular season with a 65-51 win against Saint Mary’s last Saturday. The Cougars are scheduled to play in the semifinals of the WCC Tournament Monday at 10 p.m. MST.
2020-21 All-WCC men’s basketball honors
Player of the Year: Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Coach of the Year: Mark Few, Gonzaga
Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Haarms, BYU
Newcomer of the Year: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Sixth Man of the Year: Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
2020-21 All-WCC Men’s Basketball First Team
Joel Ayayi, Jr., Gonzaga
Alex Barcello, Sr., BYU
Jamaree Bouyee, Sr. San Francisco
Kessler Edwards, Jr., Pepperdine
Corey Kispert, Sr., Gonzaga
Colbey Ross, Sr. Pepperdine
Eli Scott, Sr., LMU
Jalen Suggs, Fr., Gonzaga
Drew Timme, So., Gonzaga
Josip Vrankic, Sr., Santa Clara
2020-21 All-WCC Mens’ Basketball Second Team
Brandon Averette, Sr., BYU
Matt Haarms, Sr., BYU
Logan Johnson, Jr., Saint Mary’s
Andrew Nembhard, Jr., Gonzaga
Khalili Shabazz, Jr., San Francisco
All-WCC Freshman Team
Jalin Anderson, LMU
Oumar Ballo, Gonzaga
Caleb Lohner, BYU
Mitchell Saxen, Saint Mary’s
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
2020-21 All-WCC Honorable Mention
Ahmed Ali, Sr., Portland
Jeremiah Bailey, Sr. Pacific
Joey Calcaterra, Jr. San Diego
Dameane Davis, Soph., LMU
Daniss Jenkins, Soph., Pacific
Keli Leaupepe, Soph., LMU
Dzmitry Ryuny, Jr., San Francisco
Jalen Williams, Soph., Santa Clara