NCAA Basketball: 2017-18 National Player of the Year rankings after Week 3
By Connor Hope
5. Trevon Bluiett – Xavier
19.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists
Despite stumbling a bit in his last two games, Trevon Bluiett is still the biggest reason for Xavier’s 6-1 start to the season. Although Bluiett struggled to score against Arizona State and Baylor, his contributions on the glass and in the assist column keep him in the Top 5 for now. Big things were expected from Bluiett this season, and so far he has not disappointed.
4. Jalen Brunson – Villanova
18.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists
The Villanova Wildcats are one of the most efficient and methodical teams in the country, and point guard Jalen Brunson is a big reason why. Leading the Wildcats in points and assists, Brunson has quickly stepped into the lead role that was left vacant by the graduation of Josh Hart. His high shooting percentage means that he does not have to take a lot of shots to make an impact on the offensive end of the floor.
3. Marvin Bagley III – Duke
22.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
While Grayson Allen has been inconsistent to start the year, Duke Freshman Marvin Bagley has been the best player for the Blue Devils. Bagley has been a consistent double-double threat, recording one in 7 of his first 9 games. With players like Allen, Trevon Duval and Wendell Carter around him, it is difficult for opposing defenses to slow down the potential first overall pick in the NBA Draft.
2. Collin Sexton – Alabama
24.7 points, 4 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Collin Sexton might be the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball, and his game against Minnesota proved it. After ejections, a foul out, and an injury left Alabama with just three players, Sexton and the Crimson Tide outscored the Gophers by eight points in the last ten minutes. Sexton has shown that he is possibly the top guard in the country, and can affect the game in a variety of ways.
1. Bonzie Colson – Notre Dame
20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 2.3 blocks
Notre Dame’s Bonzie Colson retains the No. 1 spot for the second week in a row, despite great performances by Bagley and Sexton. Without any games this past week to judge, it would be difficult to move Colson down after his fantastic showing in the Maui Invitational. Perhaps most impressive is that, while Colson’s 3-point shooting percentage has dipped by 13% from last season, his overall shooting percentage has actually risen by nearly 7%.
As the season progresses, we will begin to narrow this down. For our next edition in December, the rankings will be down to just 10 players. Be sure to check back next time for more!