Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year explained

The Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a currently dormant award given to the Pac-12 Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1975–76 season, when the conference was known as the Pacific-8, and was determined by voting from the Pac-12 media and coaches. On August 2, 2024, 10 of the 12 members departed from the conference. The Pac-12 continues to operate as a two-team conference for at least the 2024–25 academic year, sponsoring four sports – football, track & field, women's gymnastics and wrestling.^[1] On September 12, 2024, the Pac-12 announced the admission of four new universities effective July 2026: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State.^[2] According to the press release, "Oregon State University and Washington State University are currently operating as members of the Pac-12 Conference as part of an NCAA two-year grace period and will continue to do so for the 2025–26 academic season before the four new members officially join. The collective six universities will collaboratively chart additional membership and other future conference considerations."^[2]

In a span of less than three weeks in September 2024, the Pac-12 added six new members effective in 2026–27—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Utah State.^{[3] [4] [5]} With eight confirmed members, conference play is expected to resume in 2026–27, with the award again being presented.

Two players were honored multiple times: David Greenwood of UCLA and Sean Elliott of Arizona. Four freshmen also won the award: Shareef Abdur-Rahim of California, Kevin Love of UCLA, Deandre Ayton of Arizona and Evan Mobley of USC.^[6] Between the arrival of Arizona and Arizona State in 1978 and the entry of Colorado and Utah in 2011, the conference was known as the Pacific–10.

Key

†	Co-Players of the Year
	Awarded a national player of the year award: Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1904–05 to 1978–79) UPI College Basketball Player of the Year (1954–55 to 1995–96) Naismith College Player of the Year (1968–69 to present) John R. Wooden Award (1976–77 to present)
Player (X)	Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the Pac-12 Player of the Year award at that point

Winners

Season	Player	School	Position	Class	Reference
		Oregon	PG / SG		[7]
			PF		[8]
1977–78			PF		[9]
	(2)		PF		[10]
			SF		[11]
1980–81			C		[12]
		Oregon State	PG		[13]
			SF		[14]
			PF		[15]
		USC	PF		[16]
			C		[17]
			C		[18]
			SF		[19]
	(2)		SF
		Oregon State	PG		[20]
		Oregon	PG		[21]
			SG		[22]
			SF		[23]
			PG		[24]
1994–95†		UCLA	SF		[25]
		PG
1995–96		California	PF		[26]
1996–97		California	SG		[27]
1997–98			PG		[28]
1998–99			PG		[29]
1999–00			SG		[30]
			PF		[31]
			PF		[32]
		Oregon	PG		[33]
			SG / SF		[34]
			PF / C		[35]
2005–06			SG		[36]
2006–07		UCLA	SG		[37]
2007–08			PF		[38]
2008–09			SG		[39]
2009–10			PG		[40]
2010–11			SF / PF		[41]
2011–12			PG		[42]
2012–13			SG		[43]
2013–14			PG / SG		[44]
2014–15		Oregon	PG		[45]
2015–16		Utah	C		[46]
2016–17		Oregon	SF		[47]
2017–18		Arizona	PF		[48]
2018–19		Washington	SG		[49]
2019–20		Oregon	PG		[50]
2020–21		USC	F		[51]
2021–22		Arizona	SG / SF		[52]
2022–23		UCLA	SG / SF		[53]
2023–24		Arizona	SG		[54]
2024–25	Pac-12 basketball anticipated to resume in 2026–27
2025–26

Winners by school

School (year joined)	Winners	Years
Arizona (1978)	11	1988, 1989, 1993, 1995†, 1998, 1999, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2024
UCLA (1959)	8	1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1995†, 2007, 2008, 2023
California (1959)	7	1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2010, 2012, 2013
Oregon (1964)	6	1976, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2017, 2020
Oregon State (1964)	5	1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990
USC (1959)	4	1985, 1992, 2002, 2021
Arizona State (1978)	3	2000, 2005, 2009
Washington (1959)	3	1986, 2006, 2019
Stanford (1959)	1	2004
Utah (2011)	1	2016
Washington State (1962)	1	1980
Colorado (2011)	0	—

• For purposes of this table, the "year joined" reflects the year that each team joined the conference now known as the Pac-12 as presently chartered. Although the Pac-12 claims the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), founded in 1915, as part of its own history, that conference disbanded in 1959 due to infighting and scandal. That same year, five PCC members established the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) under a new charter that functions to this day. The player of the year award was not established until 1976, by which time all of the final members of the PCC except for Idaho were reunited in what was then the Pac-8.

See also

• List of All-Pac-12 Conference men's basketball teams

Notes and References

1. Web site: History of the Pac-12 . . September 15, 2024 . pac-12.com . en.
2. News: . September 12, 2024 . Ushering in a new era, the Pac-12 Conference strengthens its legacy by welcoming four respected academic and athletic universities . pac-12.com . San Ramon, California . September 15, 2024.
3. Ushering in a new era, the Pac-12 Conference strengthens its legacy by welcoming four respected academic and athletic universities . Pac-12 Conference . September 12, 2024 . September 12, 2024.
4. Pac-12 Conference and Utah State University Unite to Advance the New Era of the 100-Year-Old Legacy . Pac-12 Conference . September 24, 2024 . September 24, 2024.
5. Pac-12 Conference and Gonzaga University Unite to Build a Basketball Powerhouse, Advancing the New Era of the Conference's 100-Year Legacy . Pac-12 Conference . September 30, 2024 . October 1, 2024.
6. News: Ryan. Kartje. USC’s Evan Mobley joins Anthony Davis in making college basketball history. March 9, 2021. Los Angeles Times. March 10, 2021.
7. News: Cougar Coach Shares Pac-8 Pick; Lee Tops . . . March 11, 1976 . 35. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
8. News: Marques, Edwards Top All-Pac-8 . . . March 9, 1977 . 13. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
9. News: 3 Bruins are all-stars, Cunningham 'Pac-8 Coach' . . . March 8, 1978 . 22. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
10. News: Johnson on 1st team . . . March 7, 1979 . 16. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
11. News: Don Collins Honored In Pacific-10 . . . March 4, 1980 . 18. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
12. News: A big year for OSU's Big Bumper . Albany Democrat-Herald . Albany, Oregon . March 12, 1981 . 44. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
13. News: OSU's Lester Conner Named Pac-10 Player of Year . . . March 4, 1982 . 27. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
14. News: All Pac-10 team selected . . . March 16, 1983 . 10. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
15. News: Coaches pick Green Pac-10 player of year . Albany Democrat-Herald . Albany, Oregon . March 9, 1984 . 15. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
16. News: Davis. Mike. Carlander no longer laboring in anonymity . . . March 6, 1985 . 38. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
17. News: Davis. Mike. Huskies (cont.) . . . March 13, 1986 . 186. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
18. News: Gonzales. Jay. Ortiz picked as Pac-10 Player of Year . . . March 6, 1987 . 27. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
19. News: Fraley. Gerry. Gerry Fraley. Elliott Gets Tough After Olympic Cut . . . March 23, 1989 . 55. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
20. News: Lynn. Capi. Payton is player of the year . . . March 9, 1990 . 5. Newspapers.com. December 5, 2023.
21. News: Brandon honored as Pac-10 Player of the Year . Statesman Journal . Salem, Oregon . March 11, 1991 . 29. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
22. News: Don't forget Pac-10 men . . . March 16, 1992 . 48. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
23. News: Rivera. Steve. Mills winding down stellar Wildcat career . . . March 13, 1993 . 21. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
24. News: Kidd named Pac-10 player of the year . . . March 12, 1994 . 14. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
25. News: State of Oregon can't crack AP men's listings . Albany Democrat-Herald . Albany, Oregon . March 15, 1995 . 12. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
26. News: Camby heads AP All-America team . . . March 13, 1996 . 23. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
27. News: Maisel. Ivan. No Problem Too Big . . . March 21, 1997 . 89. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
28. News: Rivera. Steve. UA's Bibby named Pac-10 Player of the Year . Tucson Citizen . Tucson, Arizona . March 7, 1998 . 15. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
29. News: Miller Isn't the Only All-American . . . March 10, 1999 . 12. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
30. News: Obert. Richard. House is top player in Pac-10 . . . March 13, 2000 . 29. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
31. News: Lampley does job on both ends of court . . . March 16, 2001 . 41. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
32. News: UA report . The Arizona Republic . Phoenix, Arizona . March 10, 2002 . 57. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
33. News: Oregon Men (cont.) . Statesman Journal . Salem, Oregon . March 13, 2003 . 10. Newspapers.com. December 6, 2023.
34. News: Top Pac-10 award goes to Childress . . . March 9, 2004 . 14. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
35. News: Huskies (cont. from C1) . . . March 10, 2005 . 28. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
36. News: Allende. Mike. Roy Pac-10 Player of the Year . The Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington . March 7, 2006 . 19. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
37. News: UCLA: Overview . The Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington . March 25, 2007 . 36. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
38. News: Player to watch – Kevin Love, UCLA . . . March 17, 2008 . 87. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
39. News: Haller. Doug. Top honor . The Arizona Republic . Phoenix, Arizona . March 10, 2009 . 22. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
40. News: Dubow. Josh. Cal's Randle the leader of the Pac . San Francisco Examiner . San Francisco, California . March 9, 2010 . A31. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
41. News: Pascoe. Bruce. Williams, Miller earn Pac-10 honors . . . March 8, 2011 . 9. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
42. News: Pacific-12 Conference Awards . The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington . March 6, 2012 . B4. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
43. News: Pac-12 Honors . Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona. March 12, 2013 . B002. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
44. News: Arizona's Pac-12 Players of the Year . Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona. March 11, 2014 . B003. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
45. News: Joe Young is Bugsy Siegel . Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona. March 11, 2015 . B003. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
46. News: Pac-12 Player of the Year . Los Angeles Times . . March 8, 2016 . D6. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
47. News: Top players – Dillon Brooks, forward, Oregon . Los Angeles Times . . March 13, 2017 . V5. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
48. News: Marshall. John. Freshmen top AP All-American team . . . March 28, 2018 . C5. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
49. News: Kay. Joe. Huskies Get Emphatic Victory . The Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington . March 23, 2019 . B2. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
50. News: Marshall. John. Oregon's Pritchard, UCLA's Cronin win AP Pac-12 honors . . . March 11, 2020 . B6. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
51. News: Pac-12 (cont.) . Statesman Journal . Salem, Oregon . March 28, 2021 . B4. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
52. News: Marshall. John. Mathurin tops in Pac-12 . . . March 9, 2022 . B4. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
53. News: Pascoe. Bruce. To the victor: UCLA wins majority of postseason awards . Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona . March 8, 2023 . B5. Newspapers.com. December 18, 2023.
54. News: Gardner. Michelle. Arizona's Caleb Love wins Pac-12 Player of the Year . Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona . March 13, 2024 . C4. Newspapers.com. June 24, 2024.