This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Santa Clara, Calif. • Freshman TJ Haws knew the comparisons to his big brother would be made early and often in his first year at BYU, because it was only two years ago that Tyler Haws became BYU's all-time leading scorer while TJ was on his church mission in France.
But TJ says the pressure to live up to his brother's lofty standards never really bothered him, even when there were whispers at the beginning of the 2016-17 season that TJ was no Tyler when the younger brother's college career hit a rough patch.
"From a young age I always knew that our games were a lot different, so [comparisons] never really mattered to me," TJ Haws said. "I always thought I played more like my dad [Marty Haws]. He played really fast. Tyler was always bigger and stronger, more of a scorer, than me or dad."
Although they look nothing alike, TJ is probably more versatile, a better defender and definitely quicker. He's also more excitable and outwardly passionate on the court. TJ is becoming the BYU player opposing fans love to heckle, although the Cougars have yet to face a truly hostile crowd in the newcomer's first 21 games.
TJ has gradually lived up to the hype that accompanied him out of nearby Lone Peak High, where he led the Knights to four consecutive Class 5A state championships before his mission to Paris.
Heading into Thursday night's key West Coast Conference game at Santa Clara (11-10, 5-3 WCC), the Cougars (15-6, 6-2) have seen Haws emerge as a vital piece of their attack. The 6-foot-5 combo guard and wing has scored in double figures 14 times and scored 20 or more points eight times.
"TJ has had an unbelievable freshman year," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "You think about the adjustment of coming off a mission, not [having] played for a couple of years, and how difficult that can be. … Every game, he just continues to get better and better."
Tyler Haws made 162 3-pointers in his 137-game career, while TJ has made 45 and is third all-time among BYU freshmen for 3-pointers in a season, trailing only Zac Seljaas (68) and Nick Emery (97). Haws has made at least one trey in 17 of 21 games.
"I think he feels more comfortable out there every game," Rose said. "He just continues to get more confident. I think his ability to attack defenses and read them has really improved. His ability to where he can find space on the floor to get his shot off [has improved]. And then defensively he has really improved."
Slender and lanky, TJ Haws is drawing comparisons to another former BYU star, Lee Cummard, and not just because he wears the same No. 30 that Cummard wore from 2005-09. Cummard has joined the program as a graduate assistant after a professional career in France, Japan and Belgium.
"Defensively, TJ has become a guy we can put on various guys," Rose said. "He's not a counter-puncher. He attacks, and he is a guy that loves to make things happen."
Haws became the fourth BYU freshman to score 20 or more points in his debut, netting 20 against Princeton back on Nov. 14, but he knew the sledding would get tougher as the season wore on and more opponents became aware of what he could do.
"Everybody at this level is really good," he said. "You look at the WCC and a lot of times you think these teams aren't as good as some. But these teams are really talented and skilled. If you come out and you are not ready to go, anyone can beat you at any time."
That's the task the Cougars must handle Thursday at the Leavey Center (9 p.m. MST, ESPNU) because they thumped Santa Clara 89-59 four weeks ago in Provo and never have lost to Santa Clara in a WCC game.
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU vs. Santa Clara
P At the Leavey Center, Santa Clara, Calif.
Tipoff • 9 p.m. MST
TV • ESPNU Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM, Sirius XM 143
Records • BYU (15-6, 6-2 WCC); Santa Clara (11-10, 5-3 WCC)
Series history • BYU leads 28-5
Last meeting • BYU won 89-59 (Dec. 29, 2016)
About the Broncos • They have won five of their last seven games since losing by 30 points to the Cougars in Provo in December. … Jared Brownridge scored 25 points and made the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds remaining to give them a 64-63 win over Loyola Marymount on Saturday. … Brownridge is fourth in scoring in the WCC with a 18.5 average and is first in the league in 3-pointers per game (3.6). … Sophomore guard KJ Feagin missed their first 12 games due to injury but is averaging 13.6 ppg.
About the Cougars • They are coming off a 62-47 win at Pacific in which Eric Mika recorded his seventh consecutive double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. … Freshman Yoeli Childs had 14 rebounds and is averaging 8.1 boards per game, good enough for third in the WCC and currently second all-time among BYU freshmen. … TJ Haws has made 45 3-pointers, the third-most by a freshman in school history. Sophomore Nick Emery, who is probable for the game with a left knee contusion, made 97 last year to set the standard for a freshman.