The 25 finalists for the John Wooden Award, one of four Player of the Year honors for college basketball, were released via ESPN today. Among the finalists were Anthony Davis, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. It is important to note that is possible to not be on the list at this point and still win the award (though not likely).
Davis is one of three player noted as having a high probability of winning the award by ESPN’s Andy Katz. Kidd-Gilchrist was rated as a solid probability. Here is what was said about each.
[I][URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/56352/michael-kidd-gilchrist”][B]Michael Kidd-Gilchrist[/B][/URL], 6-7, Fr., F, Kentucky
[B]Stat line[/B]: 13.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 49.4 FG percentage
[/I][I][B]Chances[/B]: Solid. Kidd-Gilchrist could be the SEC Player of the Year. And if he gets that honor, he’ll be in contention for the national POY. Kidd-Gilchrist took a few games to get going, but once he did he was an offensive force. He has delivered on his talent and effort. [/I]
[I][B][URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/56353/anthony-davis”]Anthony Davis[/URL], 6-10, Fr., C, Kentucky[/B]
[B]Stat line[/B]: 13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.6 bpg
[/I][I][B]Chances[/B]: High. Davis has been the most dominant post player in the country. He blocked a late-game shot by North Carolina’s John Henson in December, preventing the Tar Heels from winning a game at Rupp. He alters and changes more shots than any other player. If the Wildcats win the national title, Davis will be one of the reasons why. He would be ahead of Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger on the All-America ballot if you had to choose one of them.
[/I]For the rest of the finalists, click [URL=”http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/7471475/john-wooden-player-year-nominees-men-college-basketball”]here[/URL].
