10 candidates for college basketball Player of the Year

Basketball, more than any other sport, lends itself to star players taking over. An elite basketball player can practically carry a team, especially on the college level. The college basketball season is about to end, and various publications and voting blocs will unveil their Player of the Year awards. Several players are in the running, but somebody is going to end up emerging as the best men’s college hoops player this season. Here are 10 players vying for the title of Player of the Year.

Zion Williamson, Duke

There are a couple of obstacles facing Williamson in the race for Player of the Year, even if he is the odds-on favorite to be the top pick in the NBA Draft. One, he has a lot of talented teammates, including RJ Barrett, who could be picked second overall. Two, there’s that minor injury he picked up when his shoe exploded. That caused him to miss time, and with such a bright future, the dynamic big man may be extra careful about his health. Who could blame him?

Ja Morant, Murray State

We would never talk about the Murray State Racers if not for Morant. He’s put them on the map with his stellar passing, and he leads the NCAA in assists per game...and amazing dunks. Even though he plays for a small school in a minor conference, Morant has made huge noise and turned heads. He too could end up being the second-overall pick behind Zion.

Ethan Happ, Wisconsin

Happ has become the leader for the Badgers in his senior season. He’s done a bit of everything. In addition to averaging a double-double, he’s thrown in 4.7 assists per game to boot. Heck, he also throws in a steal and a block per game. Though his NBA future may not be as bright as that of some of these young hotshots, that doesn’t mean he can’t win awards in college. Just look at a guy like Jalen Brunson, last season's Player of the Year.

Markus Howard, Marquette

Howard is the top-scoring player in college basketball in a major conference. The junior has averaged 25.5 points per game plying his trade for Marquette. He’s a sharp shooter, especially from three, and the Golden Eagles wouldn’t be anywhere without him.

Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga

Gonzaga is the top-ranked team in college basketball, and Hachimura is a big reason why. He and Brandon Clarke have combined to make the Bulldogs a force to be reckoned with. The Japanese-born forward has taken a major leap this season. He’s gone from averaging 11.6 points per game to 20.6 while throwing in 6.7 boards per contest for good measure.

Carsen Edwards, Purdue

Edwards is basically just a scorer, though he does that quite well. The junior has averaged 23.5 points per contest, second most among major conference players. He had established himself as a scorer to keep an eye on last season, so voters were likely already aware of Edwards. That could help him get votes, though it may be hard for him to top Howard.

Grant Williams, Tennessee

Williams and his teammate Admiral Schofield are both threatening to be All-Americans, but Williams has been the better of the two. He leads an excellent Tennessee team in points (19.6 per game) and rebounds (7.6 per game). Plus, if you are a believer that defense is just as important as offense, he’s also averaged over a steal and a block per game. The Volunteers may be the best team in the SEC, and Williams is a huge reason why.

Cassius Winston, Michigan State

Winston has improved his passing numbers a bit, as he’s gone from 6.9 assists per game as a sophomore to 7.6 this year. That’s third best in college basketball and most among major conference teams. However, the real reason he’s such a strong candidate for Player of the Year is that he's also improved his scoring by quite a bit. The Detroit native has seen his numbers jump from 12.6 points per contest to 19.2.

Dedric Lawson, Kansas

Being the best player on the Jayhawks is usually a good path to take en route to winning postseason awards. Lawson has clearly earned that designation. He’s the rare player in college basketball who is averaging a double-double. The fact he’s doing that against Kansas’ opponents, both in and out of conference, makes it that much more impressive.

Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s

Ponds' numbers have dropped a bit, but he’s still arguably having a better season than he did last year. Yes, his scoring has gone from 21.6 points per game to 19.8, but he’s been a much more efficient scorer. He also makes some noise on defense for the Red Storm. The junior has averaged a whopping 2.6 steals per game.