2021 Naismith Player of the Year Award winners to be announced on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ

Luka Garza has already been named the CBS Sports activities Participant of the yr and Related Press Participant of the 12 months. On Saturday, Iowa’s senior middle will go for the trifecta, because the Naismith Participant of the 12 months honors shall be introduced at 1 p.m. ET on CBS Sports activities Community and CBS Sports activities HQ.

Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham, Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu and Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert are the opposite three males’s finalists. The 4 girls’s finalists are Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard, UConn’s Paige Bueckers, Louisville’s Dana Evans and South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston.

Garza was additionally a finalist for the award final season earlier than it went to Dayton ahead Obi Toppin. However after one other dominant season, Garza has been cleansing up throughout awards season. The identical goes for Bueckers, who was named the AP girls’s participant of the yr earlier this week.

Right here is a few extra info on the finalists as we put together for the presentation.

Girls’s Naismith Participant of the 12 months finalists

Rhyne Howard, Kentucky: The versatile 6-foot-2 junior led Kentucky with 20.7 factors per recreation, 7.3 rebounds per recreation, 3.8 assists per recreation, was tied for first in blocks per recreation and was second in steals per recreation. In brief, there was nothing Howard did not do for an 18-9 Kentucky group that superior to the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament.

Paige Bueckers, UConn: The 5-11 guard simply grew to become the primary freshman to win AP Participant of the 12 months after main the Huskies to their thirteenth straight Closing 4. Bueckers entered this weekend’s Closing 4 averaging 20.1 factors, 5.9 assists and a pair of.3 steals per recreation. Her 45.9% 3-point capturing proportion additionally jumps off the web page.

Dana Evans, Louisville: The senior level guard led Louisville to a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Event by averaging 20.1 factors and three.9 assists per recreation. Evans was named the ACC Participant of the 12 months for a second straight season.

Aliyah Boston, South Carolina: The Gamecocks’ put up star averaged a double-double with 13.8 level and 11.4 rebounds whereas additionally racking up 77 blocks in her sophomore season. Boston even flashed an outdoor shot at instances throughout one other standout marketing campaign.

Males’s Naismith Participant of the 12 months finalists

Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State: The do-it-all freshman ahead averaged 20.1 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals whereas main Oklahoma State to a 21-9 report. Cunningham is thought to be potential No. 1 choose within the upcoming NBA Draft and has been named Freshman of the Year by CBS Sports activities.

Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois: The 6-5 guard shocked some by returning for a 3rd season with Illinois, and he made the choice repay. Dosunmu led the Illini to a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event whereas averaging 20.1 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per recreation. He additionally improved his 3-point capturing this season and repeatedly got here up with big performs in clutch conditions.

Luka Garza, Iowa: The Hawkeyes’ 6-11 star led all energy convention gamers with 24.1 factors per recreation this season whereas additionally averaging 8.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per recreation. Garza additionally demonstrated an improved 3-point and diminished his turnovers whereas placing the ending touches on a storied profession.

Corey Kispert, Gonzaga: The regular four-year development of Gonzaga’s 6-7 wing hit warp pace this season as Kispert averaged 18.9 factors and made an astounding 45.3% of his 3-pointers. Kispert additionally confirmed the explosiveness and talent to interrupt down defenders off the dribble whereas main the Bulldogs on a historic run.

Previous Males’s Naismith Participant of the 12 months winners

Previous Girls’s Naismith Participant of the 12 months winners