Hansbrough A Finalist For Naismith Player Of The Year Award

March 19, 2007

ATLANTA - Four of the nation's top basketball players have been named as finalists for the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.

Kevin Durant (Texas), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) Acie Law IV (Texas A&M) and Alando Tucker (Wisconsin) have been selected to the final ballot. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's players of the year, and men's and women's college basketball coaches of the year.

Durant, the Big 12 Player of the Year, seeks to become the first freshmen in the history of the Naismith Trophy to claim the honor. To date, 24 winners have been seniors, eight as juniors and six as sophomores. Hansbrough, a first-team All-ACC selection, hopes to extend the conference's lead in Naismith Trophy winners - thus far, 15 winners have come from the ACC. Seniors Law, consensus first-team all Big 12, and Tucker, the Big Ten Player of the Year, round out the group.

Finalists were chosen through a vote by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, who narrowed the mid-season list of 30 candidates down to the final four. The Board, which is comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, based its criteria on player performances this season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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