West Coast Convo’s WCC Individual Awards

Jan. 24, 2013; Spokane, WA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Tyler Haws (3) tries to get by Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Kevin Pangos (4) during the second half at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs beat the Cougars by a final score of 83-63. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

MYP and Offensive Player of the Year – Tyler Haws (Guard, BYU)

Every time Tyler Haws walks on the court, you might as well put 20 points up for BYU, because that’s inevitably the bare minimum Haws will contribute in any given game.

Haws is a scoring guru, a tickler of the twine, a straight out bucket getter. His 23.4 points per game is a true testament to that.

As a scorer, Haws is a treat to watch for any college basketball purist. Off the ball, Haws can be found fighting through multiple defenders to find the ball. When he has the ball in his hands, it’s virtually over for opposing defenders. While Haws likes to shoot the ball, he rarely takes poor shots and shoots an efficient 46.6 percent from the field.

However, while Haws was a great scorer last season, his improvements to his overall game have made him an even better player. First off, Haws improved his 3-point shooting from last season. The junior guard shot 41.1 percent from 3-point range this season, a substantial increase from the 38.1 percent clip Haws posted in his sophomore season. Haws made an emphasis drive to the basket much more this season, and the stats represent that. Haws shot 1.9 more free throws a game this season compared to last.

People may discredit Tyler Haws for his underwhelming rebound and assist totals, but that is not the role he takes on in BYU’s system. He is a scorer, and a darn good one at that.

Our Pick for preseason offensive player of the year: Anthony Ireland

Our Pick for preseason MVP: Tyler Haws