ATLANTA – Gonzaga's
Rui Hachimura was named one of four finalists for the Citizen Naismith Trophy National Player of the Year award Tuesday.
On the heels of selection Sunday, the Atlanta Tipoff Club has announced the four finalists vying for the honor of the Citizen Naismith Trophy, recognizing the most outstanding men's college basketball player. The finalists include juniors Hachimura and Grant Williams (Tennessee), sophomore Ja Morant (Murray State) and freshman Zion Williamson (Duke).
Three of the finalists—Hachimura, Morant and Williams—would be the first from their schools to win the men's Citizen Naismith Trophy, and Williamson would be the eighth player from Duke—more than any other men's program—to bring home the award. The most recent Blue Devil winner was J.J. Reddick in 2006.
Hachimura and Williams would join 10 juniors who have won the award, including last season's winner of the 50th Citizen Naismith Trophy, Villanova's Jalen Brunson. Morant looks to be the 10th sophomore to win the trophy and would become the first representative from the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) to win a collegiate Naismith Award. Williamson would become only the third freshman to win the Men's Player of the Year honor, joining Kevin Durant (Texas), who was the first freshman ever to win the award, in 2007, and Anthony Davis of Kentucky who won five years later.
Hachimura was tabbed the WCC Player of the Year. He is third in the West Coast Conference averaging 20.1 points per game. He is sixth in the league shooting 60.9 percent from the field and eighth grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game. The junior also has 25 blocks this season. He made 63.5 percent of his shots from the field in conference play, which ranked fourth in the league.
Hachimura scored in double-digits in 32 of the Zags' 33 games this season, reaching 20 or more points 19 times. He has four double-doubles so far this season. The Toyama, Japan, native scored a career-high 33 points against Idaho State.
By visiting naismithtrophy.com/vote, from March 22-April 3, fans will be able to cast their ballot for their favorite finalist. For the first time ever, fans may also vote on the @MarchMadness Twitter page on March 22 and March 27, to select one of the finalists. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall vote. The 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson on April 7, during the Final Four in Minneapolis. The Naismith Awards Brunch will be simulcast on SiriusXM channel 84.
The four finalists were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom base their selections on outstanding on-court performances during the 2018-19 college basketball season.
