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Who are the Five National Player of the Year Candidates Now?

By Matt Johnson

Mar 25, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of game balls and court for the North Carolina Tar Heels practice before the semifinal of the west regional at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of game balls and court for the North Carolina Tar Heels practice before the semifinal of the west regional at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 26, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

The native of Freeport in the Bahamas has emerged as a likely leader due to his fantastic early season showing.

Forgetting Hield’s gaudy statistical line of 26.6 points, 52 percent shooting from the field and 90.1 percent marksmanship from the free throw line, the 6-foot-4 shooter stamped his status as arguably the nation’s best player in Oklahoma’s recent meeting with Kansas.

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Playing before a national audience, Hield dazzled onlookers with his 46 points in a classic showdown between the Sooners and Jayhawks. Not only did he connect on 13-of-23 shots and 8-of-15 from three-point range, Hield also logged an incredible 54 of 55 minutes in Oklahoma’s 109-106 triple-overtime loss at Allen Fieldhouse.

One might think such a grinding affair would lead to a hangover effect heading into Oklahoma’s next contest. Hield’s response? Scoring 31 points on 11-of-14 shooting in leading the Sooners to a win over Kansas State.

In other words, Hield has stepped forward to assert himself as one of the elite players in the country. He’s an aggressive attacker of the basket with the range to knock down triples from well beyond the arch.

He’s also a tireless worker on defense and if Hield continues at his current pace, the Bahamian could be well on his way to claiming player of the year honors.

Next: Denzel Valentine

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