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AAmong NBA lottery picks and established veterans in the Pac-12, Kyle Kuzma held his own while taking the step from supporting role to featured player this season.

For his efforts, the junior forward is one of 10 Pac-12 players to be named first-team all-conference as voted by Pac-12 coaches, the league announced on Monday afternoon.

Kuzma averaged 16 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the Utes (20-10, 11-7) as one of two returning starters on the team. With 15 double-doubles, he helped lead Utah to a fourth-place finish in the Pac-12.

Utah has had four straight seasons with at least one Pac-12 first-team honoree. Kuzma joins former Utes Delon Wright and Jakob Poeltl as first-teamers during that stretch. He also earned honorable mention on the all-defense team.

"I made this a goal of mine right after our season last year: I wanted to be an all-conference candidate," he said. "When I got out of practice today, my phone was blowing up, basically."

One of Utah's greatest foes was chosen Pac-12 Player of the Year: Dillon Brooks, who averaged 17.3 ppg in conference play for 27-4 Oregon, hitting two game-winning threes along the way in conference play. He beat out UCLA freshman Lonzo Ball, who was the conference freshman of the year and led the league in assists.

Arizona's Sean Miller was the pick for coach of the year, leading Arizona to a 27-4 record and having to play without Allonzo Trier for the majority of the season. Oregon's Jordan Bell was the defensive player of the year, finishing in the Pac-12's top 10 in rebounding, blocks and steals. USC's Chemezie Metu was voted most improved after doubling his scoring and rebounding production from his freshman year.

Kuzma was the engine of the Pac-12's top team in rebounding margin (plus-7.4 rpg), with nine of his double-doubles in conference play. He's one of only two Utes in the last 11 years to have at least 15 double-doubles.

The 6-foot-9 Kuzma was the only Pac-12 player to finish in the top five in both scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg) in league games.

While he relished getting on the first team, Kuzma said getting an honorable mention for his defense was particularly fulfilling.

"That's more important to me because how bad I was when I first got here," he said.

While Kuzma missed three starts with ankle issues, he set new highs in both scoring (26 points against Arizona State) and rebounds (19 against Northwest Nazarine) this season. His potent inside-outside attack helped spur Utah to the No. 4 field goal percentage (50.5 percent) in the country.

A native of Flint, Mich., Kuzma has taken huge steps forward in every year of his career. As a freshman, he played only 8 minutes per game, then ascended to starter as a sophomore averaging 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds as a complementary front court player with All-American Poeltl.

"I think it means a lot to me, especially with where I came from freshman year, not playing at all really, paying my dues," Kuzma said. "It has paid off — all the hard work and late nights."

Coach Larry Krystkowiak recently acknowledged that he will meet with Kuzma after the season to discuss options, which could include going pro. Kuzma is expected to complete his undergraduate degree by the end of the semester.

Many of Kuzma's contemporaries on the All-Pac-12 team are expected to be in the NBA next year, including Ball, Washington's Markelle Fultz, Arizona's Lauri Markkanen and Cal's Ivan Rabb — all are among DraftExpress' projected first-round picks this summer. The list as a whole had a youthful flavor: Ball, Fultz, Makkanen, Rabb and UCLA's T.J. Leaf are all underclassmen.

Twitter: @kylegoon —

Pac-12 Basketball Awards

• Player of the Year: Oregon forward Dillon Brooks

• Coach of the Year: Arizona coach Sean Miller

• Freshman of the Year: UCLA guard Lonzo Ball

• Most Improved Player: USC forward Chimezie Metu

• Defensive Player of the Year: Oregon forward Jordan Bell

First Team All-Pac-12

• UCLA guard Bryce Alford

• UCLA guard Lonzo Ball

• Oregon forward Dillon Brooks

• Washington guard Markelle Fultz

• Utah forward Kyle Kuzma

• UCLA forward TJ Leaf

• Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen

• Cal forward Ivan Rabb

• Stanford forward Reid Travis

• Colorado guard Derrick White