ASU Men’s Basketball: Holder named to All-Pac-12 First Team, Evans an honorable mention

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

The Pac-12 released its all-conference teams on Monday afternoon with Arizona State senior guard Tra Holder being a first-team selection.

Holder is the first player since Jahii Carson in 2014 to chosen for the first team. In his senior season, Holder averaged a team-best and career-high 18.6 points per game, ranking fifth in the Pac-12. He also averaged 3.5 assists, good for 12 in the conference, and 4.2 rebounds. Among the highlights of his senior campaign was his 40-point outburst against then-No. 15 Xavier, a critical win for the Devils as they look to make an NCAA Tournament case.

The Los Angeles native already has conference team credentials after making the All-Freshman team in 2014-15. Since his younger days, Holder has shown consistent improvement, bringing his scoring average up every year of his career. His consistent production has helped him make a strong mark in the program’s history books. Holder is among the top five in points, assists, made free throws, games played and minutes played.

Holder’s strong play has been a major part of what might be described as a breakout season for the ASU program. The Sun Devils got off to the best start in program history with a 12-0 non-conference record. While Pac-12 play proved more challenging, ASU had its first 20-win season since 2013-14 and set a record for average attendance.

Backcourt partner Shannon Evans was named an honorable mention, but no other Sun Devil received votes for the conference teams. Two players from rival Arizona, Allonzo Trier and Deandre Ayton, join Holder on the 10-man first team. Arizona’s Dusan Ristic made the second team.

The Pac-12 will reveal its individual awards, including Player of the Year, Monday evening at 6 p.m. MT. Meanwhile, Holder and company are off to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament, where they will face off against Colorado on Wednesday evening.