Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin, Azuolas Tubelis named to Pac-12 preseason all-conference team

From all-freshmen to all-conference? That’s what the Pac-12’s media contingent thinks of Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin and Azuolas Tubelis, both of whom were named to the conference’s 15-man preseason squad that was announced Wednesday.

Mathurin, a 6-foot-6 guard, made the 10-person first team while 6-foot-11 forward Tubelis is among the five listed on the second team.

UCLA, which was picked to win the conference, has three players on the first team: guards Tyger Campbell and Johnny Juzang and wing Jaime Jacquez. Oregon also has three selections, with senior guard Will Richardson on the first team and juniors Quincy Gerrier and De’Vion Harmon, transfers from Syracuse and Oklahoma, respectively, are on the second team.

No incoming freshmen made the all-conference team, though two are listed as honorable mention choices, a reflection of the Pac-12 signing only three of the top 28 players in the 2021 recruiting class according to 247Sports.

Here’s the entire preseason all-conference squad: