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Villanova senior James Bell, as been named one of the top 30 midseason candidates for the 2014 Men's Naismith Trophy.
The Award, is named in honor of Dr. James Naismith- founder of the game of basketball and is awarded annually to "the women's and men's college basketball players of the year."
The 6'6" Bell is leading Jay Wright's Wildcats in scoring with 16ppg this season strengthened by his 40% shooting of 3-Pointers. Along with JayVaughn Pinkston, Bell is also 3 boards behind Daniel Ochefu for the team lead in rebounding.
Bell has taken home BIG EAST Player of the Week twice this season and named to the conference Honor Roll five other times. Addtionally, the Orlando native has claimed the Big Five Player of the Week honor for three consecutive weeks.
Naismith Midseason Candidate List
| Full Name | Year | Position | School | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Anderson | Sophomore | Guard-Forward | UCLA Bruins | Pac-12 |
| Keith Appling | Senior | Guard | Michigan State Spartans | Big Ten |
| Cameron Bairstow | Senior | Forward | New Mexico Lobos | Mountain West |
| James Bell | Senior | Guard | Villanova Wildcats | Big East |
| Bryce Cotton | Senior | Guard | Providence Friars | Big East |
| Cleanthony Early | Senior | Forward | Wichita St. Shockers | Missouri Valley |
| Melvin Ejim | Senior | Forward | Iowa St. Cyclones | Big 12 |
| Joel Embiid | Freshman | Center | Kansas Jayhawks | Big 12 |
| Tyler Ennis | Freshman | Guard | Syracuse Orange | ACC |
| C.J. Fair | Senior | Forward | Syracuse Orange | ACC |
| Aaron Gordon | Freshman | Forward | Arizona Wildcats | Pac-12 |
| Gary Harris | Sophomore | Guard | Michigan St. Spartans | Big Ten |
| Joe Jackson | Senior | Guard | Memphis Tigers | American Athletic |
| Nick Johnson | Junior | Guard | Arizona Wildcats | Pac-12 |
| DeAndre Kane | Senior | Guard | Iowa St. Cyclones | Big 12 |
| Sean Kilpatrick | Senior | Guard | Cincinnati Bearcats | American Athletic |
| Roy Devyn Marble | Senior | Guard | Iowa Hawkeyes | Big Ten |
| Doug McDermott | Senior | Forward | Creighton Bluejays | Big East |
| Shabazz Napier | Senior | Guard | Connecticut Huskies | American Athletic |
| Jabari Parker | Freshman | Forward | Duke Blue Devils | ACC |
| Lamar Patterson | Senior | Forward | Pittsburgh Panthers | ACC |
| Casey Prather | Senior | Forward | Florida Gators | SEC |
| Julius Randle | Freshman | Forward | Kentucky Wildcats | SEC |
| Marcus Smart | Sophomore | Guard | Oklahoma St. Cowboys | Big 12 |
| Russ Smith | Senior | Guard | Louisville Cardinals | American Athletic |
| Nik Stauskas | Sophomore | Guard | Michigan Wolverines | Big Ten |
| Xavier Thames | Senior | Guard | San Diego St. Aztecs | Mountain West |
| Fred Van Vleet | Sophomore | Guard | Wichita St. Shockers | Missouri Valley |
| Andrew Wiggins | Freshman | Guard | Kansas Jayhawks | Big 12 |
| Chaz Williams | Senior | Guard | UMass Minutemen | Atlantic 10 |
