The Naismith College Player of the Year award, established in 1969, is given to a player who had the best season in American college basketball. The award is in honor of James Naismith, the creator of the game of basketball, and is hosted by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. It has honored some of the all-time greats in the history of college basketball. Duke's men's program leads with eight winners, and UConn's women's program has the most winners with eleven awards going to seven different players. The award has been won four times by a freshman, Kevin Durant in 2007 for Texas, Anthony Davis in 2012 for Kentucky, Zion Williamson in 2019 for Duke, and Paige Bueckers in 2021 for UConn.
Five of the winners were not born in the United States, Andrew Bogut was born in Australia, Patrick Ewing in Jamaica, Buddy Hield in the Bahamas, Oscar Tshiebwe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zach Edey in Canada. The award is an early predictor of their professional success, with most recipients getting a successful start to their NBA or WNBA careers. Purdue's Zach Edey and Iowa's Caitlin Clark were announced as the 2024 winners of the Naismith College Player of the Year award for their remarkable college basketball season.
Naismith Women's Official of the Year
The first Naismith Women's College Official of the Year recognition was in 1988, to Patty Broderick. The award honors basketball officials who have exhibited character, and integrity and have contributed to the game even off the court. The award requires candidates to have officiated college basketball games for a minimum of 20 years, including NCAA and conference tournaments and must be retired from officiating. Bonita Spence was honored in 2024 for her 27-year officiating career, in which she refereed every NCAA women's tournament from 2000 through 2013, as well as two Final Fours. She also refereed WNBA games from 1999 through 2009. As per the official Naismith Award site, Spence played college basketball at Monmouth and also worked in the public service sector after graduating.
The Naismith Women's Official of the Year winner
| Year | Women's Official of the Year |
| 2024 | Bonita Spence |
| 2023 | Mark Zentz |
| 2022 | Ron Dressander |
| 2021 | Dana Senders |
| 2020 | Felicia Grinter |
| 2019 | Barbara Jo Smith |
| 2018 | Denise Brooks |
| 2017 | Al Link |
| 2016 | Phyllis Deveney |
| 2015 | Dock Sisk |
| 2014 | Kaye Garms |
| 2013 | Marcy Weston |
| 2012 | Doug Cloud |
| 2011 | Mary Day |
| 2010 | Denny Mayer |
| 2009 | Nan Sisk |
| 2008 | Tommy Salerno |
| 2007 | Tina Napier |
| 2006 | Joe Cunningham |
| 2005 | Wesley Dean |
| 2004 | Melissa Barlow |
| 2003 | Yvette McKinney |
| 2002 | Lisa Mattingly |
| 2001 | Scott Yarbrough |
| 2000 | Dennis DeMayo |
| 1999 | Violet Palmer |
| 1998 | Bob Trammell |
| 1997 | Dee Kantner |
| 1996 | John Morningstar |
| 1995 | Darlene May |
| 1994 | Larry Sheppard |
| 1993 | Arthur Bomengen |
| 1992 | Sue Kennedy |
| 1991 | Sally Bell |
| 1990 | Bill Stokes |
| 1989 | June Courteau |
| 1988 | Patty Broderick |
FAQs on Naismith Award
A. The Naismith Award is an annual award given to the top men’s and women’s college basketball players.
A. The Atlanta Tipoff Club presents the Naismith Award.
A. The first Naismith Award was presented in 1969.
A. Zach Edey (Purdue) and Caitlin Clark (Iowa) won the Naismith Award in 2024.
