UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad named National Player of the Week

Shabazz Muhammad's 27-point effort in UCLA's Dec. 28 win over then-No. 7 Missouri was good enough to earn him the U.S. Basketball Writer Association's National Player of the Week award.

UCLA players, including freshman Shabazz Muhammad (15), celebrate after the Bruins' upset of then-No. 7 Missouri. (AP)

The new year is off to a pretty good start for UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad . Muhammad was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week on Wednesday by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. 

Muhammad tied his season-high with 27 points in the Bruins' Dec. 28 upset of then-No. 7 Missouri. In the 97-94 overtime win, Muhammad scored seven of UCLA's nine points in the extra period, including a 3-pointer with 1:04 left that gave the Bruins the lead for good at 95-93. Two of Muhammad's three 3-pointers in the game came in overtime.

The win over Missouri was UCLA's first over a top-10 ranked nonconference team since November 2007. 

Since shedding 13 pounds in mid-December, Muhammad has been on fire. The true freshman has averaged 24.5 points in four games since Dec. 15 and the Bruins have gone 4-0 in that span. 

Beside being named national player of the week, Muhammad was also named the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday. 

If Muhammad can stay hot during Pac-12 play, UCLA (10-3) will have as good a chance as any to win the conference. The Bruins open up Pac-12 play on Thursday when they host Cal (8-4) at Pauley Pavilion. 

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