Top candidates for the Wooden Award

Top candidates for the Wooden Award.

1 of 25

Grayson Allen, G, Duke

Mark Dolejs / USA Today Sports Images

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.

2 of 25

Dwayne Bacon, G, Florida State

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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.

3 of 25

Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA

Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

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.

4 of 25

Trevon Bluiett, G, Xavier

Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

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.

5 of 25

Chris Boucher, F, Oregon

Scott Olmos / USA Today Sports Images

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.

6 of 25

Dillon Brooks, F, Oregon

Richard Mackson / USA Today Sports Images

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.

7 of 25

Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana

Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

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.

8 of 25

Charles Cooke, G, Dayton

Derik Hamilton / USA Today Sports Images

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.

9 of 25

Jawun Evans, G, Oklahoma State

Rob Ferguson / USA Today Sports Images

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.

10 of 25

De'Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky

Mark Zerof / USA Today Sports Images

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.

11 of 25

Markelle Fultz, G, Washington

Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

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.

12 of 25

Josh Jackson, F, Kansas

Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

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.

13 of 25

Harry Giles, F, Duke

Rob Kinnan / USA Today Sports Images

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.

14 of 25

Josh Hart, G, Villanova

Bob Donnan / USA Today Sports Images

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.

15 of 25

Nigel Hayes, F, Wisconsin

Mary Langenfeld / USA Today Sports Images

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.

16 of 25

Frank Jackson, G, Duke

Rob Kinnan / USA Today Sports Images

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.

17 of 25

Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina

Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports Images

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.

18 of 25

Kris Jenkins, F, Villanova

Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

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.

19 of 25

Frank Mason III, G, Kansas

Steven Branscombe / USA Today Sports Images

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.

20 of 25

Malik Monk, G, Kentucky

Mark Zerof / USA Today Sports Images

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.

21 of 25

Alec Peters, F, Valparaiso

Greg Bartram / USA Today Sports Images

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.

22 of 25

Rodney Pryor, G, Georgetown

The Washington Post

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.

23 of 25

Jayson Tatum, F, Duke

Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

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.

24 of 25

Melo Trimble, G, Maryland

Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

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.

25 of 25

Nigel Williams-Goss, G, Gonzaga

James Snook / USA Today Sports Images

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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