USC basketball: Trojans forward Nikola Vucevic named Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Week

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USC junior forward Nikola Vucevic was selected the Pacific 10 Conference player of the week on Monday after his recent performances in the Trojans’ wins against Arizona and Arizona State.

Vucevic averaged 22.5 points and 11 rebounds in the two games, shooting 57.1%. In USC’s 65-57 upset of then-No. 10 Arizona on Thursday, he had a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds. In USC’s 62-46 win against Arizona State on Saturday, he scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

This season, Vucevic, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound Montenegro native, is averaging 17.5 points and a Pac-10 leading 10.3 rebounds. He has a league-high 18 double-doubles.

Vucevic’s father, Borislav, who played professional basketball in Europe for 24 years, was able to attend both games against the Arizona schools. Borislav also attended USC’s games at California and at Stanford this season. Before those four games, he hadn’t seen his son play since Vucevic was 16; Vucuvic turned 20 in October.

It’s the first time Vucevic has been chosen Pac-10 player of the week and the second time this season a USC player has earned that honor. Junior guard Jio Fontan received it for the week of Dec. 20-26.

-- Baxter Holmes