SAN FRANCISCO – As Pac-12 basketball conference action continues, Pac-12 Networks announced today the addition of three former Pac-12 standouts to its on-air talent team as well as the return of several veteran broadcasters. All-Pac-12 honorees Monique Billings and Kelsey Plum make their Networks debuts this month, while Richard Jefferson makes his return to the on-air lineup this Thursday. Additionally, former UCLA star and NBA veteran Earl Watson joins the in-studio analyst team on Thursday.

 

Returning on-air favorites this season, joining hosts Ashley Adamson and Mike Yam, include Anne Marie Anderson, Thad Anderson, Roxy Bernstein, Tammy Blackburn, Krista Blunk, Joan Bonvicini, Ben Braun, Cindy Brunson, Rich Burk, PJ Carlesimo, Layshia Clarendon, Maylana Martin Douglas, Ros Gold-Onwude, Guy Haberman, Eddie House, Casey Jacobsen, JB Long, Don MacLean, Mike Montgomery, Matt Muehlebach, Mary Murphy, Eldridge Recasner, Ted Robinson, Ann Schatz, Kate Scott, Daron Sutton, Barry Tompkins, Bill Walton and Elise Woodward.

 

Richard Jefferson, who was inducted into the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor in 2012 after a stellar career at Arizona playing under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, makes his return to the Pac-12 Networks broadcast team. As a freshman, Jefferson averaged 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in Pac-10 play, earning him a spot on the 1999 Pac-10 All-Freshman team. During his junior campaign, he averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in leading Arizona to the 2001 NCAA championship game. Jefferson was the 13th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA Draft and was a 2002 second-team NBA all-rookie Selection. In 2016, Jefferson helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA Championship in franchise history. Jefferson will be on the call this Thursday, Jan. 16 as California takes on USC on Pac-12 Network.

 

The NCAA's all-time leading scorer, Kelsey Plum brings a wealth of on-court success to the Pac-12 Conference and Pac-12 Networks, including multiple NCAA records and national awards that she accumulated over her four-year career at Washington. In 2017, Plum won the Naismith, John R. Wooden, Dawn Staley, and Nancy Lieberman Awards in addition to taking home the Wade Trophy and AP Player of the Year recognition to sweep the national player of the year honors that season. That same year, she broke the single-season NCAA scoring record, the career NCAA scoring record, as well as the NCAA career free throw record. The four-time All-Pac-12 honoree was drafted first overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft and currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces. Plum will serve as analyst as the Huskies host Arizona State on January 17, available on the Pac-12 Now app and Pac-12 Arizona.

 

Monique Billings never missed a game during her four-year career at UCLA, where she was a two-time All-Pac-12 and All-Defensive team honoree. The forward led the Bruins to three NCAA Tournaments, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2018. That year, she led the Pac-12 with 17 double-doubles and 18, 10-rebound games. She is the UCLA record holder for free throws and blocks in a season, as well as the career record-holder for blocks and games played. Billings was selected in the second round of the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream and also plays overseas in South Korea. Billings makes her Pac-12 Networks broadcast debut on January 24 as Washington State takes on USC, available on the Pac-12 Now app and Pac-12 Washington

 

Earl Watson is the all-time leader in steals at UCLA and also ranks in the top-ten in Pac-12 history in the category. The guard was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team before earning All-Pac-12 honors in 2001. Watson played 13 years in the NBA and later became the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, the first UCLA player to become an NBA head coach and first NBA head coach of Hispanic descent. Watson will offer in-studio analysis when he debuts on January 16 as the Wildcats clash with Utah on Pac-12 Network.

 

Pac-12 men’s hoops action begins tomorrow as UCLA hosts Stanford at 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network. Colorado and Utah kick off another full week of Pac-12 women’s basketball on Pac-12 Network on Friday at 5:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. MT.