T.J. Leaf Named Pac-12 and National Player of the Week

"He killed us."

That’s what Kentucky head coach John Calipari said about UCLA freshman T.J. Leaf after his double-double in knocking off the Wildcats in Lexington. Leaf and the Bruins put the nation on notice and the nation is... noticing.

Leaf was named Player of the Week by the Pac-12, and also your NCAA Player of the Week after a box score of 17 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal on Saturday afternoon to upset the top-ranked team at Rupp Arena.

From the conference release:

Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award nominee TJ Leaf recorded a pair of double-doubles last week to help UCLA improve to 9-0, its best start in a decade, and climb to No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25, its highest ranking since Nov. 2007.

Leaf averaged 17.5 points on 67 percent shooting (16-24) and 11.5 rebounds while adding 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in 29.5 minutes in the Bruins' two victories. His impressive week was capped by a 17-point, 13-rebound, 5-assist performance in UCLA's 97-92 upset of No. 1 Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Saturday.

Leaf is the third true freshman to receive the conference honor in a row, following Ball and UC Berkeley's Charlie Moore. This is the first time in the history of the honor that three freshman have won in consecutive weeks.

The NCAA’s release included this nifty video highlighting Leaf's accomplishments:

The #2-ranked Bruins are back in action this Saturday, playing host to Michigan in Pauley Pavilion.

Congratulations, T.J.!

GO BRUINS.