Naismith finalists in first round tournament action
The Naismith Award finalist list was announced on Tuesday.
The list was narrowed from 10 to four and includes Arizona's DeAndre Ayton and Duke's Marvin Bagley III, two of the nation's top rebounders.
Villanova point guard Jalen Brunson also makes the list after enjoying a stellar season, leading the Wildcats in scoring and total assists with 19.4 points per contest and 160 assists this season.
The finalists include two freshmen, one junior and one senior. Two of the four finalists are guards, while the remaining players are forwards.
Three of the four players' teams are represented in the latest AP Top 25 poll, including two teams in the top 10.
The winner of the 2018 Naismith Award will be announced on April 1.
Here is the full list:
| Name | School | Conference | Class | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeAndre Ayton | Arizona | Pac-12 | Freshman | Forward |
| Marvin Bagley III | Duke | ACC | Freshman | Forward |
| Devonte Graham | Kansas | Big 12 | Senior | Guard |
| Jalen Brunson | Villanova | Big East | Junior | Guard |
