Who is the National Player of the Year in college basketball?
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The race was over midway through the season when Oklahoma freshman Trae Young was dominating college basketball. But after a subpar finish to the season, Young fell back into a pack with a half-dozen other worthy candidates.
MORE AWARDS: Coach of the Year | Newcomer of the Year
Scroll down to see HERO Sports' College Basketball Player of the Year, as well as all the players who were considered for the honor.
Note: This honor is taking into account the regular season performance of each player. Stats do not include the NCAA Tournament.
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HERO Sports College Basketball Player of the Year:
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Jalen Brunson – Villanova
Key Stats: 19.4 PPG / 4.7 APG / 41.3% 3-PT FG
Jalen Brunson thrived with more scoring responsibility as a junior. He averaged nearly 20 points in fewer than 32 minutes per game and committed just one turnover every 19 minutes.
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Honorable Mention
These players all deserved consideration for this honor:
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Deandre Ayton – Arizona
Key Stats: 20.3 PPG / 11.5 RPG / 61.6% FG
The fourth-ranked player and third-ranked power forward in the 2017 recruiting class, Deandre Ayton had 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in his first college game and never slowed down.
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Marvin Bagley III – Duke
Key Stats: 21.1 PPG / 11.5 RPG / 60.5% FG
Bagley was sensational as a freshman, leading the ACC in both scoring and rebounding while ranking second in field-goal percentage. He had 21 double-doubles and seven 30-point games.
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Keita Bates-Diop – Ohio State
Key Stats: 19.4 PPG / 8.8 RPG / 1.7 BPG
Keita Bates-Diop led Ohio State's unexpected flirtation with the Big Ten title.
The redshirt junior more than doubled his scoring average from last year and set career-highs in almost every area. His 32-point performance (on 12-for-21 shooting) in a blowout win over Michigan State on Jan. 7 was one of the best for any player this season.
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Trevon Bluiett – Xavier
Key Stats: 19.5 PPG / 5.7 RPG / 42.3% 3-PT FG
Trevon Bluiett withdrew from the draft for second time and somehow topped a spectacular junior season.
He bumped his three-point clip more than five points and free-throw clip more than 10 points in averaging a career-high 19.5 points.
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Devonte' Graham – Kansas
Key Stats: 17.3 PPG / 7.5 APG / 41.2% 3-PT FG
In his first season without Frank Mason III, Devonte' Graham thrived as the Jayhawks' primary ball-handler and most reliable scorer. He led the Big 12 in assists and hit nearly three three-pointers per game.
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Trae Young – Oklahoma
Key Stats: 27.4 PPG / 8.8 APG / 1.7 SPG
Once a clear POY frontrunner, Trae Young slipped far back with a poor second half as the Sooners fell from a top-five team onto the tourney bubble.
Still, the freshman guard led the country in scoring and assists while scoring at least 27 points 17 times.
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