:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51768365/usa_today_8347650.0.jpg)
Villanova seniors Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins have been named by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the watch list of 50 players in consideration for the 2017 Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year.
As a junior, Hart averaged 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game for the National Champion Villanova Wildcats. He was named the BIG EAST Conference preseason Player of the Year last week.
Jenkins averaged 13.6 points and 3.9 boards per game as a junior. His three-pointer as time expired gave Villanova their second National Championship in the program’s history.
Subsequent cuts will trim the field to 30 players on Feb. 9th, 10 semifinalists on March 1st and four finalists will be announced on March 19th. The award will be presented at the Naismith Awards banquet during the Final Four.
The players hope to join past winners such as Lew Alcindor (1969), Pete Maravich (1970), Bill Walton (1972-74), Larry Bird (1979), Ralph Sampson (1981-83), Michael Jordan (1984) and Danny Manning (1988).
Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
| Last Name | First Name | Year | Position | School | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adebayo | Edrice (Bam) | Freshman | F | Kentucky | SEC |
| Allen | Grayson | Junior | G | Duke | ACC |
| Allen | Jarrett | Freshman | F | Texas | Big 12 |
| Bacon | Dwayne | Sophomore | G | Florida State | ACC |
| Ball | Lonzo | Freshman | G | UCLA | Pac 12 |
| Beachem | V.J. | Senior | F | Notre Dame | ACC |
| Berry II | Joel | Junior | G | North Carolina | ACC |
| Blackmon Jr. | James | Junior | G | Indiana | Big Ten |
| Blossomgame | Jaron | Senior | F | Clemson | ACC |
| Bluiett | Trevon | Junior | G | Xavier | Big East |
| Boucher | Chris | Senior | F | Oregon | Pac 12 |
| Bridges | Miles | Freshman | G/F | Michigan State | Big Ten |
| Brooks | Dillon | Junior | F | Oregon | Pac 12 |
| Bryant | Thomas | Sophomore | C | Indiana | Big Ten |
| Caupain | Troy | Senior | G | Cincinnati | American Athletic |
| Davis | Tyler | Sophomore | C | Texas A&M | SEC |
| Evans | Jawun | Sophomore | G | Oklahoma State | Big 12 |
| Fox | De'Aaron | Freshman | G | Kentucky | SEC |
| Fultz | Markelle | Freshman | G | Washington | Pac 12 |
| Gibbs | Jack | Senior | G | Davidson | Atlantic 10 |
| Giles | Harry | Freshman | F | Duke | ACC |
| Graham | Devonte' | Junior | G | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Happ | Ethan | R-Sophomore | F | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
| Hart | Josh | Senior | G | Villanova | Big East |
| Hayes | Nigel | Senior | F | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
| Hill | Malcom | Senior | G | Illinois | Big Ten |
| Jackson | Josh | Freshman | G | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Jackson | Justin | Junior | F/G | North Carolina | ACC |
| Jenkins | Kris | Senior | F | Villanova | Big East |
| Jok | Peter | Senior | G | Iowa | Big Ten |
| Kingsley | Moses | Senior | F | Arkansas | SEC |
| Koenig | Bronson | Senior | G | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
| Lawson | Dedric | Sophomore | G/F | Memphis | American Athletic |
| Lydon | Tyler | Sophomore | F | Syracuse | ACC |
| Markkanen | Lauri | Freshman | F | Arizona | Pac 12 |
| Mason III | Frank | Senior | G | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Matthews | E.C. | Junior | G | Rhode Island | Atlantic 10 |
| Monk | Malik | Freshman | G | Kentucky | SEC |
| Morris | Monte | Senior | G | Iowa State | Big 12 |
| Motley | Jonathan | Junior | F | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Nichols | Austin | Junior | F | Virginia | ACC |
| Perrantes | London | Senior | G | Virginia | ACC |
| Peters | Alec | Senior | F | Valparaiso | Horizon League |
| Rabb | Ivan | Sophomore | F | California | Pac 12 |
| Smith Jr. | Dennis | Freshman | G | NC State | ACC |
| Sumner | Edmond | Sophomore | G | Xavier | Big East |
| Swanigan | Caleb | Sophomore | F | Purdue | Big Ten |
| Tatum | Jayson | Freshman | F | Duke | ACC |
| Trimble | Melo | Junior | G | Maryland | Big Ten |
| Williams-Goss | Nigel | Junior | G | Gonzaga | West Coast |