PHOENIX– In just two weeks of the Big 12 era, the Sun Devils have collected individual accolades early and often as Nu'u Contrades was named Big 12 Co-Player of the Week on Monday, as announced by the league office.
After missing almost the entirety of the 2024 campaign due to injury, Contrades has been the driving force atop of Sun Devils lineup early in the season and a monster weekend against Oral Roberts earned him Big 12 Co-Player of the Week honors in week two. He joins the likes of Brandon Compton as Sun Devils to achieve Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
Contrades' big weekend saw him clip a .385 average, five hits, three home runs, a double, five RBIs and six runs scored in addition to stellar defense at the hot corner to push the Sun Devils to a series win over Oral Roberts.
Contrades found his groove on Saturday afternoon, recording a three hit game that included a fourth inning two-run homer to blow things open at 8-2 en route to a 12-5 victory. It was the ninth time in his career recording three plus hits in a game and his first time doing so since May 5, 2023 where he recorded five hits against Oregon State (W, 14-10)
Contrades' encore performance included him launching a leadoff bomb to dead center on the first pitch the team saw on Sunday. Moments earlier, he made a key defensive play to help starter Jaden Alba escape a bases-loaded jam. The junior capped his performance with another towering two-run shot to deep left-center to put things out of reach for Oral Roberts.
The Sun Devils will compete in five games this week, including two midweek games in Los Angeles against former Pac-12 rival UCLA before returning to host Minnesota at Phoenix Municipal Stadium beginning Friday, February 28.
After missing almost the entirety of the 2024 campaign due to injury, Contrades has been the driving force atop of Sun Devils lineup early in the season and a monster weekend against Oral Roberts earned him Big 12 Co-Player of the Week honors in week two. He joins the likes of Brandon Compton as Sun Devils to achieve Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
Contrades' big weekend saw him clip a .385 average, five hits, three home runs, a double, five RBIs and six runs scored in addition to stellar defense at the hot corner to push the Sun Devils to a series win over Oral Roberts.
Contrades found his groove on Saturday afternoon, recording a three hit game that included a fourth inning two-run homer to blow things open at 8-2 en route to a 12-5 victory. It was the ninth time in his career recording three plus hits in a game and his first time doing so since May 5, 2023 where he recorded five hits against Oregon State (W, 14-10)
Contrades' encore performance included him launching a leadoff bomb to dead center on the first pitch the team saw on Sunday. Moments earlier, he made a key defensive play to help starter Jaden Alba escape a bases-loaded jam. The junior capped his performance with another towering two-run shot to deep left-center to put things out of reach for Oral Roberts.
The Sun Devils will compete in five games this week, including two midweek games in Los Angeles against former Pac-12 rival UCLA before returning to host Minnesota at Phoenix Municipal Stadium beginning Friday, February 28.