PacWest Weekly Awards (Nov. 15)

IRVINE, Calif. – Just a day after Academy of Art men's basketball redshirt junior guard Christian Popoola Jr. was named the SF State Tip-Off Classic Tournament Most Valuable Player, the honors continued as Popoola Jr. was picked as the Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week. The award is for games played from Nov. 8-14. 

One of the reasons that the Urban Knights got off to their first 2-0 start since the 2015-16 season was Popoola Jr., coming up with three steals in the season-opening win over host SF State before following that performance with another four steals the following day in a thrilling overtime victory against Sonoma State. His seven steals are the most in the PacWest, and he remained active on the glass by snatching seven defensive rebounds (eight total rebounds). In addition to his defense, Popoola Jr. averaged 15.5 points per game in the tournament, icing game one from the free throw line and ending a perfect 10-for-10 from the stripe (making him the fifth Urban Knight to be perfect at the line with 10 attempts in a single game).

Not only is this the first weekly award for an Urban Knight this season, but it is the first time receiving a PacWest weekly award for Popoola Jr. in his career. ART U will return to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. against Chico State.