Colorado Basketball: KJ Simpson earns Pac-12 Freshman of the Week

Colorado Buffaloes point guard

KJ Simpson

has been named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the second time this season. KJ also earned the honors back in late-November after Colorado earned their first conference win of the season over Stanford.

KJ provides that much-needed spark and instant offense off the bench for this young Buffaloes team. KJ earns his second Pac-12 Freshman of the Week award after helping Colorado go a perfect 3-0 on their west coast road trip with wins over Oregon State, California, and Stanford.

The freshman scored 39 total points and averaged 13 points and three rebounds over that three-game stretch, including a monster 19-point game over California.

Tad Boyle‘s guard has been getting to the line quite a bit the past few games which has helped up his point total, going 14-18 (78%) in the two wins over California and Stanford.

Colorado is going to need everything they can get out of the speedy guard during the two-game homestand this week. Colorado faces Arizona State Thursday night, followed by #2 ranked Arizona Saturday.

Simpson scored his previous career-high of 17 points against Arizona back on Jan. 13 where the Buffs went on to lose by the final score of 76-55. KJ was the lone Buff in double-figures, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. He also collected four assists, three rebounds, three steals, and one block in defeat.

Boyle has done his fair share of recruiting solid point guards, including Spencer Dinwiddie, Derrick White, McKinley Wright IV — all of which are currently on an NBA roster. Not to mention Alec Burks, who was more of a combo guard.

The sky is the limit for KJ — hopefully we see some of these Pac-12 Freshman of the Week awards turn into Player of the Week awards in the near future.