Yesterday, we gave you a list of five coaches in the preseason running for Coach of the Year. Today, we bring you our initial look at five players that should be in the discussion all year for Player of the Year honors. So, welcome to our Player of the Year Watch List!
You’ll notice that no freshmen are on the list because, well, they need to earn it first.
1.) Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
At this point, I feel pretty confident saying that Wiltjer would put up awesome offensive numbers no matter where he played in the country. However, playing in the WCC does aid his overall effectiveness, as it would for everyone. You can’t kill him for it though, and we expect him to put up his fair share of video game stats, en route to being one of the best players in America.
2.) Melo Trimble, Maryland
The vast majority of the college basketball world had no idea who Trimble was before last season. Now, he’s a household name for everyone to watch. Trimble has the Terps on the cusp of a top two ranking heading into the year, and for good reason. He’s electric, consistent, and will have more weapons around him this season than he did last season. Watch. Out.
3.) Marcus Paige, North Carolina
The most important player on perhaps the best team in the country. Paige needs to be more consistent, there’s no doubt about it, but he may finally have some help on the perimeter with Joel Berry this season, allowing him to be his versatile, dynamic self without the burdens of running the show alone on the outside.
4.) Georges Niang, Iowa State
Niang went out last year with a whimper in the Cyclones’ NCAA Tournament loss, but all reports out of Ames say that he’s used it as a fuel to bounce back this season. He’s a stat sheet stuffer who should be right with Buddy Hield in the race for Big 12 Player of the Year, depending on whose team ends up closer to the top spot in the final standings.
5.) Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Speaking of Hield. The big question here is whether or not the Sooners will, ultimately, be good enough for Hield to go beyond the conference and capture some national honors. There is no question that he’s going to put up some silly numbers this season, but what will it mean if OU doesn’t live up to some of their lofty preseason expectations?
