Top candidates for the Wooden Award
Top candidates for the Wooden Award.
Grayson Allen, G, Duke
The favorite for the Wooden Award, Allen averaged 21.6 points per game during his sophomore season and is off to a strong start this year for Duke. The Blue Devils are also the favorites to win the National Title.
Dwayne Bacon, G, Florida State
Bacon averaged 15.8 points per game during his freshman season and got off to a tremendous start this season vs. Charleston Southern. The 6-7 guard scored 23 points with nine boards.
Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
One of the country's top recruits, Ball scored 19 points and had 11 assists in his debut against Pacific. The Bruins are counting on Ball to help return them to the NCAA Tournament.
Trevon Bluiett, G, Xavier
The Musketeers have started the season in the top 10 due in large part to Bluiett's talent. He averaged 15.1 points per game last season and scored 25 points in the first game of the season vs. Lehigh.
Chris Boucher, F, Oregon
Boucher averaged 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his junior season, and the 6-10 big man scored 14 points with seven boards in his season debut vs. Army.
Dillon Brooks, F, Oregon
Brooks is getting off to a late start after offseason foot surgery, but he remains a top Wooden Award candidate. The 6-7 forward averaged 16.7 points per game in his sophomore season.
Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana
Bryant is difficult to stop in the paint and off to a great start this season for the Hoosiers. The 6-10 center scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds in an overtime win vs. Kansas to start the year.
Charles Cooke, G, Dayton
The Flyers remain major threats in the A-10 behind senior Charles Cooke. He averaged 15.6 points in his junior season and scored 31 points against Austin Peay to start the year.
Jawun Evans, G, Oklahoma State
Evans had a fine freshman season for the Cowboys, and he dominated in his first game of the season vs. Campbell. He scored 34 points with six rebounds and five steals.
De'Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky
An elite recruit for Kentucky, Fox has 33 points through two games. The 6-3 guard had 12 assists in his debut and scored 21 points in his second game.
Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
A top recruit at guard, Fultz kicked off his college career with a 30-point performance against Yale. The sharpshooter is expected to revitalize the Huskies program.
Josh Jackson, F, Kansas
An impressive athlete at 6-8, Jackson had nine points and six rebounds in 27 minutes during his college debut vs. Indiana. His playing time should pick up as he gains more experience.
Harry Giles, F, Duke
Giles is missing the start of the season after knee surgery. He was considered by many to be the top recruit in the nation and should help Duke before long.
Josh Hart, G, Villanova
Hart helped lead Nova's National Championship squad last season, averaging 15.5 points during the regular season. He will take on an even bigger role in his senior season.
Nigel Hayes, F, Wisconsin
Hayes averaged 36.2 minutes and 15.7 points per game for the Badgers in his junior season. The team will lean just as heavily on him this season, and he's off to a fine start after scoring 14 points in only 24 minutes against Central Arkansas.
Frank Jackson, G, Duke
One of Duke's electrifying freshmen, Jackson already has 39 points and is 5-for-10 from three through two games. The 6-3 guard makes a nearly unstoppable tandem with Grayson Allen.
Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina
UNC has seen some turnover in the offseason, so Jackson is expected to step up as the top player. The 6-8 forward is averaging 18.5 points through two games.
Kris Jenkins, F, Villanova
Villanova's NCAA Tournament hero scored 16 points in his first game of the season and wasn't shy from long range with 10 three-point attempted. He's set to cap off an incredible college career.
Frank Mason III, G, Kansas
The Jayhawks' do-everything senior guard is off to a spectacular start this season, scoring 30 points in the team's overtime loss to Indiana. Bill Self will especially count on Mason early as the team's freshmen continue to get experience.
Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
Monk is another one of John Calipari's impressive freshmen recruits, and he's averaged 13 points through two games for the Wildcats. He hasn't been shy about pulling the trigger, with 12 three-point attempts already.
Alec Peters, F, Valparaiso
Peters averaged 18.4 points per game in his junior season, and he's off to one heck of a start this year. The senior forward is averaging 29.5 points through two games, adding 11.5 rebounds.
Rodney Pryor, G, Georgetown
The pressure is on the Hoyas to return to the NCAA Tournament this season after a subpar 2015-16. Pryor, a transfer from Robert Morris, is their clear leader, averaging 18 points per game last season and scoring 32 points in the team's first game of the season.
Jayson Tatum, F, Duke
Tatum is getting a late start due to a foot injury, but the freshman forward should find the court soon. The top recruit from St. Louis could be an offensive force to be reckoned with in the frontcourt.
Melo Trimble, G, Maryland
Trimble enters his third season at Maryland hoping to build on two terrific seasons with the Terrapins. The 6-3 guard scored 22 points in his first game of the year.
Nigel Williams-Goss, G, Gonzaga
The Zags will count on Williams-Goss, a transfer from Washington, to offset some key losses from last season. He averaged 15.6 points per game for Washington in 2014-15 and scored 14 points in Gonzaga's first game of the season vs. Utah Valley.
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