WCC Basketball: Top 5 returning players of the 2017-2018 season

By Connor Hope | May 31, 2017

Jan 14, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Johnathan Williams (3) fights for position against St. Mary's Gaels forward Calvin Hermanson (24) and center Jock Landale (34) during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs won 79-56. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 10, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard TJ Haws (30) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes guard Josh Fortune (44) during the second half at Marriott Center. Brigham Young won 79-71. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /

5) TJ Haws (BYU)

Only a freshman last season, TJ Haws showed impressive talent, earning himself a spot on the All-WCC First Team. Initially, Haws constantly compared to his older brother Tyler, who played for BYU between 2009 and 2015 and was named the 2014 WCC Player of the Year.

After a few stand-out performances, TJ Haws established himself as a top player in the WCC.

The best of these performances were his two regular season games against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In BYU’s narrow home loss, Haws scored an astounding 29 points, bested only by Nigel Williams-Goss, who scored 33. During BYU’s win in Spokane, Gonzaga’s lone regular season loss, Haws put up 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Perhaps the best way to address TJ Haws talent is to compare him to his brother. TJ’s 40.4% 3-point percentage already matches Tyler’s career high, which came during his WCC Player of the Year campaign. TJ is already a better distributor, averaging 3.2 assists with a 1.28 assist-turnover ratio. Tyler only averaged 1.8 assists with a 1.0 assist-turnover ratio.

Haws will need to improve on the defensive end if he wishes to compete for WCC Player of the Year in the future. His offensive skill, however, is undeniable and earns him a spot as a top player in the WCC.