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The Atlanta Tipoff Club has announced 10 semifinalists for the 2017 Naismith Trophy and Villanova senior Josh Hart has made the list. The Award is given to the most outstanding college basketball player and will be presented at the annual Final Four Awards Brunch on April 2nd.
Hart is the only semifinalist from the BIG EAST. The Big 12 boasts three players on the list as the Pac 12, Big Ten, ACC, and the West Coast Conference are also represented.
The 6’6” guard from Silver Spring, MD is averaging 18.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He is the only BIG EAST player in the Top 5 for scoring and rebounding.
If selected, Hart would become the first Villanova Wildcat to receive the prestigious award. Michael Bradley (2001) and Allan Ray (2006) were named Finalists for the Award in previous years.
2017 Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Semifinalists
| First Name | Last Name | Class | Position | School | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | Class | Position | School | Conference |
| Lonzo | Ball | Freshman | G | UCLA | Pac 12 |
| Ethan | Happ | R-Sophomore | F | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
| Josh | Hart | Senior | G | Villanova | Big East |
| Justin | Jackson | Junior | F/G | North Carolina | ACC |
| Josh | Jackson | Freshman | G | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Luke | Kennard | Sophomore | G | Duke | ACC |
| Frank | Mason III | Senior | G | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Johnathan | Motley | Junior | F | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Caleb | Swanigan | Sophomore | F | Purdue | Big Ten |
| Nigel | Williams-Goss | R-Junior | G | Gonzaga | West Coast |