(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
The Pac-12 announced its list of All-Pac-12 teams and awards on Monday and three Sun Devils made the list. Jordan Bachynski was named the Pac-12 defensive player of the year while Jahii Carson was tabbed as a member of the All-Pac-12 first team for the second year in a row. Jermaine Marshall was also named as an All-Pac-12 honorable mention.
Carson averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game in his last season at ASU before heading to the NBA. He’s one of only nine ASU basketball players and the first since James Harden receive the all-Pac-12 first team honors in back-to-back years.
“I’m just excited, I’m happy to be recognized as one of the better players in the Pac-12,” Carson said. ” It’s always an honor for me to get something like that.”
Bachynski’s defensive Pac-12 player of the year honor comes as no surprise. The 7-foot-2 four-year letterman at ASU broke his own record this year for blocks in a single season in the Pac-12 with 131.
“Its a huge honor,” Bachynski said. ” I pride myself on my defense and it feels good to be recognized for that.”
Bachynski also said it was a goal of his to the lead the Pac-12 in defense and lead the nation in blocked shots. According to Jahii Carson, he told the 7-foot-2 center that he would be the Pac-12 defensive player of the year before the season even started. The Canadian also broke the all-time Pac-12 record for career blocks with 312.
“I’m not surprised,” head coach Herb Sendek said. “He’s had an outstanding season especially on the defensive end where he has anchored us in the middle. He’s been a great basket presence for us and we’re really happy for him and proud of him.”
Carson added that although it took him awhile to block his shot once he got on campus, Bachynski can block the Mesa product’s shot with regularity now.
Carson also adds to his trophy case after being named Pac-12 co-freshman player of the year with Shabazz Muhammad last season. However, Bachynski won’t let the shine of the trophy blind him from what he has called the ultimate team goal all season.
“Honestly right now I’m not thinking about that I’m thinking about winning our next few games,” Bachynski said.
