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The finalists have been named for the Naismith Award, which goes to the National Player of the Year in men’s college basketball.
The four finalists are Zach Edey (Purdue), Drew Timme (Gonzaga), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana) and Jalen Wilson (Kansas).
All four finalists are upperclassmen, showing the trend of experience succeeding in college basketball.
Zach Edey, Purdue
The 7-foot-4 big man was a dominating force for the Purdue Boilermakers. The junior averaged 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. He was the sixth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder in the nation. He shot 60.7%.
Edey, the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American, dropped at least 25 points in 12 games this season, recording 27 double-doubles and scoring in double digits in every game.
Edey will likely return to Purdue next season to try to improve his footspeed and NBA draft stock.
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Senior star Timme returned to Gonzaga for some unfinished business to try and win Gonzaga’s first national title. He has his Bulldogs in the Sweet 16 in a matchup against UCLA.
Timme was a two-time second-team All-American before becoming a consensus first-teamer this season. Timme is averaging 21.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 3.2 assists per game and is shooting 62.1%.
Timme, the two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year, has some of the best post moves in the game and a magnificent mustache to match. Timme is a projected second-round pick and will need to improve his defense and athleticism on rebounds to play at the next level.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
The Indiana star has put up career numbers this season, averaging 20.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 2.9 blocks per game. He was the second-leading scorer in the country among major conference players.
The consensus first-team All-Amercan also put up 23.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg during the NCAA Tournament. He put up the first 20-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, five-block game in tournament history.
Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Jalen Wilson led the Kansas Jayhawks in scoring and rebounds. He averaged 20.1 ppg and 8.2 rpg and was a workhorse, averaging 35.4 minutes a game.
Wilson averaged 11.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg on the national championship-winning team last season. The junior may return next season to improve his NBA draft prospects. He is currently a second-round projection.
The award winner will be announced on Sunday, April 2, during the Final Four in Houston. Fans can vote for the award, with the fan vote counting for five percent of the final vote.
The women’s finalists are Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech) and Maddy Siegrist (Villanova).
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