Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Rui Hachimura the favorite in National Player of the Year race

By Brian Rauf

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs holds up the tournament MVP trophy after the 2018 Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs holds up the tournament MVP trophy after the 2018 Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 01: Shamorie Ponds #2 of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts after a basket against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 01: Shamorie Ponds #2 of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts after a basket against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

10) Shamorie Ponds, PG, St. John’s

Stats: 21.0 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.6 spg
LW: 6

St. John’s has not looked overly impressive at any point this season but are 8-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 season.

How? The Johnnies have been an excellent second-half team and always seem to come through down the stretch – and Shamorie Ponds deserves a lion’s share of the credit for their success.

The junior has already notched three 30-point games and come through with clutch moments against Cal, VCU, and Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, due to St. John’s lackluster non-conference schedule, Ponds won’t get to prove himself against top-end competition until Big East play.

9) Grant Williams, PF, Tennessee

Stats: 20.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 4.3 apg
LW: 8

Williams continues to do everything for a very good Tennessee team that has been ranked in the top 10 all season long and is the clear favorite to repeat as SEC Player of the Year. The junior has played well in every game but his worst performance came in the Vols’ biggest matchup against Kansas.

The 6-7, 236-pounder was dealing with foul trouble in that game but, because of that, has yet to really make an imprint on the national scene despite his quality numbers. He’ll another chance this weekend when Tennessee takes on Gonzaga.

Home/NCAA Basketball News