K.J. Simpson named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week

K.J. Simpson has impressed early this season

It hasn’t surprised many in Boulder to see K.J. Simpson dominating so early into his rookie season.

Through seven games, the freshman guard has averaged 7.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds coming off the bench. The K.J. Simpson-Keeshawn Barthelemy dynamic in the backcourt has been a definite bright spot for the Colorado Buffaloes.

But Simpson’s strong handles and smooth jump shot are now garnering him some attention outside of Colorado. In the Buffaloes’ two previous games against Brown and Stanford, Simpson had a combined 19 points and 6 assists to continue the strong start to his career. That was good enough to name him the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.

“I’m really impressed with his progress,” Tad Boyle said of Simpson after CU’s win over Stanford. “I think he’s coming along. Defensively, it’s going to be a challenge for him to lock down. Offensively, he played with better pace tonight (and) made a really nice move in the first half… He has grown up before our eyes.”

The award, which was created prior to the 2019 season, is the second for a Colorado player after Jabari Walker got the nod in January.

Things will only get more difficult for Simpson and the Buffaloes as they face No. 5 UCLA on Wednesday and then No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday.