It’s the time of year when a handful of organizations get ready to vote on the NCAA men’s basketball player of the year. That’s no easy task this time around with talent spread evenly on teams across the country. We’ve narrowed the field of candidates:
1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky » He could be an effective NBA player right now. The freshman is a force on the defensive end, leading the nation with 4.79 blocks per game. He’s still a work-in-progress on offense but has the skills to be a star at the next level.
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2. Thomas Robinson, Kansas » A dominant performance in a comeback win over Missouri was the latest strong outing for the 6-foot-10 forward. He leads Kansas in scoring (17.8 points per game) and rebounding (11.8 per game) despite being the overwhelming focus of opposing defenses.
3. Draymond Green, Michigan State » The 6-7, 230-pound senior is torching the Big Ten. He dropped 29 points at No. 18 Indiana on Tuesday and has helped keep the Spartans in the top 10 much of the season. He can score inside or out and is a 41 percent 3-point shooter. He also averages 10.2 rebounds per game.
4. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina » Barnes has made a leap as a sophomore despite playing on a bum ankle for several weeks. He’s not as reliant as teammate Tyler Zeller can be on star point guard Kendall Marshall. Barnes shoots 41 percent from 3-point range and is averaging 17.7 points per game.
5. Doug McDermott, Creighton » Third in the nation in points per game (23.1), McDermott is 6-7 and can score on an array of moves around the basket. But he’s also deadly outside — a 48 percent 3-point shooter. The Bluejays are a virtual lock for an at-large NCAA bid at 25-5.
– Brian McNally
