Being in the mix for the Naismith
Trophy is another honor in a long list that Morant, a sophomore from
Dalzell, S.C., has received as he continues his amazing 2018-19
season this week at the NCAA Tournament.
Morant is averaging 24.6 ppg and 5.5
rpg and leading the nation in assists (10.3 apg) and that led to him
being named the OVC Player of the Year. As the Racers play Marquette
Friday in Hartford at the NCAA Tournament, Morant is in line to
become the first Division I basketball player to average 20 ppg and
10 apg and has already become the first Division I player in 20 years
to record 40 points, 11 assists and five steals in a regulation game.
He is eighth nationally in scoring (24.6 ppg), fifth in
double-doubles (19) and one of two players to have multiple
triple-doubles this season. His 19 double-doubles are just three off
the nation's lead, and he is the only player in the top 20 nationally
in double-doubles under 6'6″ tall.
According to the Atlanta Tipoff Club, three of the finalists (Hachimura, Morant and Williams) would be the first from their schools to win the men's 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.
By visiting naismithtrophy.com/vote, from March 22-April 3, 2019, 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 Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch (April 7) at the Final Four in Minneapolis.
