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Naismith College Player of the Year

Annual college basketball player award

Annual college basketball player award

FieldValue
nameNaismith College Player of the Year
descriptionthe most outstanding male and female basketball players in NCAA Division I
presenterAtlanta Tipoff Club
countryUnited States
year1969 (men)
1983 (women)
holderCooper Flagg, Duke (men)
JuJu Watkins, USC (women)
website

1983 (women) JuJu Watkins, USC (women) The Naismith College Player of the Year is "the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's college basketball players of the year," as chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors. It is named in honor of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.

History and selection

First awarded exclusively to male players in 1969, the award was expanded to include female players in 1983. Annually before the college season begins in November, a "watchlist" consisting of 50 players is chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club board of selectors, comprising head coaches, administrators and media members from across the United States. By February, the list of nominees is narrowed down to 30 players based on performance. In March, four out of the 30 players are selected as finalists and are placed in the final ballot. The final winners are selected in April by both the board of selectors and fan voting via text messaging. The winners receive the Naismith Trophy.

Three award winners, two men and one woman, were born in United States territories:

  • Alfred "Butch" Lee, who was born in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
  • Tim Duncan and Aliyah Boston, both born in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The only award winners who have been born outside the jurisdiction of the United States were:

  • Andrew Bogut, born in Melbourne, Australia.
  • Patrick Ewing, born in Kingston, Jamaica.
  • Buddy Hield, born in Freeport, Bahamas.
  • Oscar Tshiebwe, born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Zach Edey, born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Six of these players were developed at least partially in the U.S. proper—Lee was raised in Harlem from early childhood; Ewing immigrated to the Boston area at age 12; Boston moved to Worcester, Massachusetts at the same age; Hield attended high school in suburban Wichita, Kansas; Tshiebwe attended high schools in southwestern Virginia and western Pennsylvania; and Edey spent his last two high school years in Florida. Duncan did not move to the U.S. proper until he arrived at Wake Forest University, and Bogut lived in Australia until his arrival at the University of Utah.

Through 2024–25, Duke has the most male winners with nine, while UConn has the most female winners, with eleven awards won by seven individuals. The award has been won by a freshman five times: Kevin Durant (Texas, 2007), Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012), Zion Williamson (Duke, 2019), Paige Bueckers (UConn, 2021), and Cooper Flagg (Duke, 2025).

Key

Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the Naismith Player of the Year Award at that point

Winners

SeasonPlayerSchoolPositionClassReference
1968–69UCLAC
1969–70LSUPG
1970–71Notre DameSG
1971–72UCLAC
1972–73(2)UCLAC
1973–74(3)UCLAC
1974–75SG / SF
1975–76IndianaSF
1976–77UCLAG / F
1977–78MarquettePG
1978–79Indiana StateSF
1979–80DePaulSF
1980–81VirginiaC
1981–82(2)VirginiaC
1982–83(3)VirginiaC
1983–84North CarolinaSG
1984–85GeorgetownC
1985–86DukePG
1986–87NavyC
1987–88KansasPF
1988–89DukePF / SF
1989–90La SalleSF
1990–91UNLVPF
1991–92DukePF / C
1992–93IndianaSF
1993–94PurdueSF
1994–95MarylandPF
1995–96UMassC
1996–97Wake ForestClast =Reesefirst =Earnesttitle=Duncan, Starbird honoredurl=https://www.newspapers.com/image/979824786newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionlocation=Atlanta, Georgiadate=April 6, 1997page= 191via =Newspapers.comaccessdate = April 18, 2025}}
1997–98North CarolinaSFlast =first =title=Jamison, Holdsclaw Naismith winnersurl=https://www.newspapers.com/image/980365854newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionlocation=Atlanta, Georgiadate=March 28, 1998page= 165via =Newspapers.comaccessdate = April 18, 2025}}
1998–99DukeC
1999–00CincinnatiF
2000–01DukePF
2001–02DukePGlast =first =title=Williams, Bird take Naismithsurl=https://www.newspapers.com/image/775245031newspaper=The Commercial Appeallocation=Memphis, Tennesseedate=March 19, 2002page= 37via =Newspapers.comaccessdate = April 18, 2025}}
2002–03TexasPGlast =first =title=Naismith tabs Ford, Taurasiurl=https://www.newspapers.com/image/407039523newspaper=Wisconsin State Journallocation=Madison, Wisconsindate=March 25, 2003page= 28via =Newspapers.comaccessdate = April 18, 2025}}
2003–04Saint Joseph'sPG
2004–05UtahC
2005–06DukeSG
2006–07TexasSF
2007–08North CarolinaPF
2008–09OklahomaPF
2009–10Ohio StateSF
2010–11BYUPG / SG
2011–12KentuckyC
2012–13MichiganPG
2013–14CreightonSF
2014–15WisconsinPF
2015–16OklahomaSG
2016–17KansasPG
2017–18VillanovaPG
2018–19DukePF
2019–20DaytonPF
2020–21IowaC
2021–22KentuckyC
2022–23PurduePF / C
2023–24(2)PurdueC
2024–25DukeSG / SF

| | | | |

SeasonPlayerSchoolPositionClassReference
1968–69No award
1969–70
1970–71
1971–72
1972–73
1973–74
1974–75
1975–76
1976–77
1977–78
1978–79
1979–80
1980–81
1981–82
1982–83Old DominionC
1983–84USCSF
1984–85(2)SF
1985–86(3)USCSF
1986–87TexasF
1987–88F
1988–89(2)F
1989–90StanfordPG
1990–91VirginiaPG
1991–92(2)VirginiaPG
1992–93Texas TechSG / SF
1993–94C
1994–95UConnC
1995–96GeorgiaG
1996–97StanfordSG / SF
1997–98TennesseeSF
1998–99(2)SF
1999–00TennesseeSF
2000–01Notre DameC
2001–02UConnPG
2002–03UConnPG / SG
2003–04(2)UConnPG / SG
2004–05LSUSG / SF
2005–06(2)LSUSG / SFauthor=date=2025title=Women's Naismith Award Winnersurl=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/women/naismith.htmlwebsite=sports-reference.comlocation=publisher=Sports Reference LLCaccess-date=April 21, 2025}}
2006–07PG
2007–08TennesseePF
2008–09UConnPF
2009–10UConnC
2010–11(2)UConnPF
2011–12BaylorC
2012–13(2)BaylorC
2013–14UConnPF
2014–15(2)UConnPF
2015–16(3)UConnPF
2016–17WashingtonPG
2017–18South CarolinaC
2018–19IowaPF / C
2019–20OregonPG
2020–21UConnPG
2021–22South CarolinaPF / C
2022–23IowaPG
2023–24(2)IowaPG
2024–25USCSG

|}

  • Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971 after converting to Islam.

References

References

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  2. (March 20, 1969). "Alcindor first Naismith Trophy recipient". Johnson City Press.
  3. (March 17, 1970). "Maravich Wins Naismith Top Cager Trophy". The Crowley Post-Signal.
  4. (March 16, 1971). "Notre Dame's Austin Carr Accorded Naismith Trophy". Berwick Enterprise.
  5. (March 19, 1972). "UCLA's Walton Wins Naismith Trophy". [[The Star Press]].
  6. (March 16, 1973). "Walton wins Naismith Trophy...again". Thousand Oaks Star.
  7. (March 10, 1974). "Naismith Award To Walton Again". [[Times Recorder]].
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  9. Davidson, David. (March 7, 1976). "May Wins Naismith". [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]].
  10. (March 6, 1977). "UCLA's Johnson Takes Player Of Year Honors". [[Tyler Morning Telegraph.
  11. (March 30, 1978). "Naismith award to Butch Lee". [[The Daily News Journal]].
  12. (March 15, 1979). "Indiana State's Bird wins Naismith award". [[Wisconsin State Journal]].
  13. (March 17, 1980). "Aguirre Is Winner Of Naismith Award". [[Pharos-Tribune]].
  14. Stinson, Thomas M.. (April 2, 1981). "Sampson Named Naismith Winner". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  15. (March 25, 1982). "Sampson Heads Naismith All-Americans". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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  18. Rosen, Karen. (April 5, 1985). "Naismith Trophy provides consolation for Ewing, Miller". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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  25. (April 6, 1992). "Laettner, Coach K, Weller take honors". [[Richmond Times-Dispatch]].
  26. (April 3, 1993). "Cheaney wins Naismith, Rupp player awards". [[The Greenville News]].
  27. (March 28, 1994). "Robinson wins Naismith, says he'll stay". [[Miami Herald]].
  28. (March 27, 1995). "Joe Smith takes hoops Naismith". [[The Daily Progress]].
  29. Chimelis, Ron. (March 25, 1996). "Joe Smith takes hoops Naismith". [[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts).
  30. Reese, Earnest. (April 6, 1997). "Duncan, Starbird honored". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  31. (March 28, 1998). "Jamison, Holdsclaw Naismith winners". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  32. (March 25, 1999). "Duke doubles up on Naismith". [[The Charlotte Observer]].
  33. McKissic, Rodney. (March 14, 2000). "Martin wins Naismith". [[The Cincinnati Post]].
  34. (March 14, 2001). "Duke's Battier wins Naismith award". [[Columbia Daily Tribune]].
  35. (March 19, 2002). "Williams, Bird take Naismiths". [[The Commercial Appeal]].
  36. (March 25, 2003). "Naismith tabs Ford, Taurasi". Wisconsin State Journal.
  37. (May 7, 2004). "Jameer trophies". [[The Kansas City Star]].
  38. (April 4, 2005). "Naismith Trophy goes to Bogut". [[Evansville Courier & Press]].
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  40. Barnhouse, Wendell. (April 2, 2007). "Durant nets fourth award". [[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]].
  41. (April 7, 2008). "Hansbrough wins Naismith Trophy". [[The Manhattan Mercury]].
  42. (April 6, 2009). "Griffin wins Naismith player of year award". [[The Oklahoman]].
  43. (April 5, 2010). "OSU's Turner collects Naismith Award". [[Dayton Daily News]].
  44. (April 5, 2011). "Jimmer wins Naismith Award". [[Leader-Telegram]].
  45. (April 2, 2012). "Davis receives Naismith Trophy". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  46. (April 8, 2013). "Burke claims Naismith". [[Jackson Citizen Patriot]].
  47. (April 8, 2014). "McDermott wins Naismith award". Telegraph.
  48. (April 6, 2015). "Kaminsky wins Naismith award". The Daily Progress.
  49. Austin, Kyle. (April 4, 2016). "Hield claims Naismith over Valentine". [[Kalamazoo Gazette]].
  50. (April 3, 2017). "Kansas' Mason wins Naismith Trophy". [[The Herald (Rock Hill).
  51. Schnell, Lindsay. (April 2, 2018). "Michigan vs. Villanova". The Globe.
  52. (April 8, 2019). "Duke's Williamson is named Naismith player of the year". [[The Buffalo News]].
  53. Jablonski, David. (April 4, 2020). "Obi Toppin wins Naismith Award". [[Hamilton JournalNews]].
  54. Hlas, Mike. (April 4, 2021). "Iowa's Garza winner of Naismith Trophy". [[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
  55. (April 7, 2022). "Oscar Tshiebwe has won a truckload of trophies. Here's the full — and historic — list". [[Lexington Herald-Leader]].
  56. King, Sam. (April 4, 2023). "Edey claims Naismith Award". [[Journal & Courier]].
  57. Chidley-Hill, John. (April 9, 2024). "Olynyk impressed with Edey's growth". [[Toronto Star]].
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  59. Davidson, David. (April 8, 1983). "First Naismith to female player goes to Donovan". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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  61. Clegg, Guerry. (March 16, 1985). "Patrick Ewing, Cheryl Miller are honored by Tipoff Club". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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  63. (March 13, 1987). "Robinson, Davis win Naismith awards". [[The State Journal (Kentucky).
  64. (March 18, 1988). "Naismith Trophy to Manning, Wicks". Tarrytown Daily News.
  65. (March 11, 1989). "Naismith Awards given to Ferry, Clarissa Davis". [[Rocky Mount Telegram]].
  66. Gates, Nick. (March 22, 1990). "Oak Ridge's Azzi named Naismith Award winner". [[Knoxville News Sentinel]].
  67. Daniels, Rob. (March 29, 1991). "Staley, Ryan Naismith winners". The Daily Progress.
  68. (April 6, 1992). "Virginia's Staley repeats as Naismith winner". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
  69. (April 14, 1993). "Texas Tech's Swoopes recipient of Naismith Award". [[The Monitor (Texas).
  70. (April 4, 1994). "USC's Leslie receives another honor". [[The Pantagraph]].
  71. (March 27, 1995). "Smith, Lobo win Naismith". [[Lansing State Journal]].
  72. Ringgold, Buck. (March 24, 1996). "Roundtree player of the year". [[Kilgore News Herald]].
  73. (March 29, 1999). "Holdsclaw, Peck named Naismith award winners". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  74. Fleser, Dan. (March 14, 2000). "Hard work earns Catchings Naismith Award". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  75. Haugh, David. (April 2, 2001). "A diamond, but no longer in the rough". [[South Bend Tribune]].
  76. (March 24, 2004). "Naismith Players of Year are Taurasi and Nelson". [[Record-Journal]].
  77. (April 7, 2005). "Augustus wins Naismith trophy award for top player". [[Leesville Daily Leader]].
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  79. (March 8, 2007). "Duke's Harding wins Naismith Award". [[The Daily Dispatch]].
  80. Fleser, Dan. (April 8, 2008). "Parker claims her third Naismith Award". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  81. Altavilla, John. (April 7, 2009). "Moore Wins Naismith Trophy". [[Hartford Courant]].
  82. (April 6, 2010). "Naismith to Charles". [[The Day (New London).
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  84. (April 5, 2012). "Baylor (cont.)". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  85. Parchman, Will. (April 14, 2013). "Goodbye to Griner". [[Waco Tribune-Herald]].
  86. Griffin, Ned. (April 9, 2014). "Stewart adds to growing trophy list". The Day.
  87. (April 8, 2015). "UConn's Stewart wins 2nd straight Naismith Trophy". [[West Central Tribune]].
  88. Allen, Percy. (April 4, 2017). "Plum needs a larger trophy case". [[The Daily News (Longview, Washington).
  89. (April 11, 2018). "Wilson: What a journey". [[Missoulian]].
  90. Linder, Jeff. (April 7, 2019). "Gustafson, Bluder win Naismith". The Gazette.
  91. (April 4, 2020). "Oregon's Ionescu adds Naismith to trophy case". Southern Illinoisian.
  92. (April 5, 2021). "UConn's Paige Bueckers wins Naismith Trophy". West Central Tribune.
  93. Stone, Augusta. (April 1, 2022). "Gamecocks sweep Naismith national basketball awards". [[The State (newspaper).
  94. (March 30, 2023). "Iowa's Caitlin Clark wins Naismith Trophy". [[The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead]].
  95. (April 6, 2024). "Iowa's Clark wins second straight Naismith Award". [[Post-Bulletin]].
  96. Chiari, Mike. (April 2, 2025). "JuJu Watkins Wins 2025 Naismith Women's College Player of the Year Award". [[Bleacher Report]].
  97. Keidan, Bruce. (February 13, 1973). "Police Protection Fails to Lessen Faith in Religion". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
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