Top 5 Small Forwards in the WCC this past season
By Josh Horton
Feb 13, 2014; Stockton, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Tyler Haws (3) goes up for a shot against the Pacific Tigers during the first half at Alex G. Spanos Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
No. 1 – Tyler Haws (BYU)
Preseason Rank: 1 (#1 shooting guard)
By Andrew Perkins
No surprise here as the WCC Player of the Year takes the top spot.
Aided by offense-friendly rules and improved toughness and creativity, Haws flat out got buckets this season. Last season, there was always a chance that a hard-nosed defender could muscle the Ty-crowave (feel free to use it) into non-existence for the full 40. This year, however, Haws seemed to get his regardless. Ask a friendly Texas fan, who watched 6’5 junior turn around from a dismal first half into a sizzling hot second.
Overall, Haws put up 23.2 points a game while making 223 of 253 free throws. That’s only 30 misses in 253 tries. Space it out evenly and Tyler makes 8.4 free throws for every miss. Not too shabby.
Haws is a guy who has the ability to take over a game. He can win games for the Cougars. He’s a special player, a rare breed. Exciting times should abound in Provo as number 3 plays out his final season as a Cougar in 2014-2015.