Washington State men’s basketball true freshman Rueben Chinyelu was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the first time in his career, the Pac-12 Conference announced Monday. Chinyelu earned the honor after tallying his first-career double-double in the road win at No. 4 Arizona and became the second Cougar freshman after Myles Rice to earn Conference recognition this season.
Reuben Chinyelu
Chinyelu recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in No. 21 WSU’s win at No. 4 Arizona, playing a career-high 28 minutes and finishing 6 of 7 from the floor. Chinyelu tallied an assist in both games last weekend matching his season high (1).
The Nigerian freshman blocked two shots, moving into sole possession of second place in WSU freshman block history (37 blocks), surpassing Rob Corkrum (1991) and fellow countryman Efe Abodigi (2021). Chinyelu is now two blocks from tying the WSU freshman record for single-season rejections (39) set by DeAngelo Casto in 2009. Chinyelu also passed Klay Thompson (2009) for seventh in freshman single-season rebounding, adding three rebounds in Saturday’s loss at ASU, for 7.0 rebounds per game weekend average.
With Chinyelu’s recognition, three WSU men’s basketball student-athletes have earned weekly League awards (Isaac Jones, Myles Rice), marking just the second time in program history with three different weekly winners in the same season. In 1979-80, the inaugural season of weekly Pac-10 Conference awards, the Cougars’ Stuart House, Don Collins, and Bryan Rison each won Pac-10 Player of the Week once.
Washington State returns to Beasley Coliseum to conclude the regular season with a three-game homestand, beginning Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. against Southern California.
