College career Shabazz Muhammad

muhammad ucla in 2012.

boasting scholarship offers scores of basketball programs, muhammad s final list of schools duke, kentucky, , ucla. on april 11, 2012, muhammad announced attend ucla. muhammad declared ineligible play hours prior ucla s 2012–13 season opener against indiana state due alleged violations involving ncaa s amateurism rules surrounding unofficial university visits. ncaa ruled had received benefits travel expenses , lodging family friend benjamin lincoln, had befriended muhammad s father when muhammad in seventh grade, during unofficial visits duke , north carolina. after missing 3 games , appeal ucla, reinstated, , family required repay approximately $1,600. days before reinstatement, several media outlets reported boyfriend of ncaa’s lead investigator boasted publicly ncaa find him ineligible 8 days after investigation commenced. ncaa subsequently fired investigator involved in case.

muhammad scored 15 points off bench in debut in 78–70 loss georgetown in semifinals of legends classic. became starter in next game against georgia, , scored game-high 21 points in 60–56 win in classic s consolation game. muhammad college-high 27 points, including game-winning 3 pointer, in 97-95 overtime victory against no. 7 missouri. scored game-high 23 points in 84–73 road win on no. 6 arizona.

muhammad received national recognition, earning second-team all-american honors sporting news , freshman all-american selection united states basketball writers association (usbwa). named all-pac-12 first team, , voted pac-12 co-freshman of year along jahii carson of arizona state. muhammad finished season averaging 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals, , 0.1 blocks per game. shot 44.3% floor , made 71.1% of free throws. while scoring ability unquestionable, not flashy offensive player expected upon signing. muhammad struggled in postseason, shooting 39.7 percent (23-for-58) , averaging 15.3 points in 4 games. 0-for-10 on three-point field goals. during season, focused on shooting , passed ball. weak defensive player, though did show improvement.

college statistics