ITEM I: Am I exaggerating to say that Rawle Alkins is one of the 10 leading players in Pac-12 basketball?
Over his final nine games as an ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ freshman, Alkins averaged 10 points, shot 60 percent from the field and had a 15-rebound game in a blood-and-guts showdown at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State. Two weeks later he had basketball’s version of a Perfect Game in the NCAA opener, shooting 8-for-8 from the field with 16 points against North Dakota.
Given Alkins’ likely return Saturday against Alabama, here’s my list of the league’s 10 top players, subject to change through February:
1. Deandre Ayton, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. No brainer.
2. Tra Holder, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State. The league’s most explosive point guard is averaging 22; let’s see if that holds up Sunday against Kansas.
3. Reid Travis, Stanford. The Cardinal is awful, but Travis is a feared power forward averaging 21.7.
4. Allonzo Trier, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Team first, right?
5. Jaylen Nowell, Washington. One of Lorenzo Romar’s last recruits in Seattle, Nowell is an impact player. The 6-foot-4-inch wing man is averaging 17.8 for the suddenly relevant Huskies.
6. Shannon Evans, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State. He’s averaging 18.7 and scored 50 in a preseason exhibition game. Don’t leave him unguarded.
7. Noah Dickerson, Washington. As good as any low-block player in the league, Dickerson is averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds.
8. Aaron Holiday, UCLA. Maybe he’s no Lonzo Ball, but Holiday is the go-to man at Pauley Pavilion, averaging 16.5 with 5.5 assists.
9. Rawle Alkins, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. One word: roustabout. Just what ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ needs.
10. Jordan McLaughlin, USC. The Trojans have slumped, but their point guard is a gamer.