On ESPN’s College Gameday show Saturday morning–which was hosted live at the Smith Center–the Los Angeles Athletic Club revealed its 2017 National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, given annually to the top individual player in college basketball.
UNC junior forward Justin Jackson was among the 15 candidates included on the list, and one of three players from the ACC to earn the honor.
The native of Tomball, Texas has worked his way into the Player of the Year discussion by posting a fantastic regular season to this point–leading the Tar Heels with 18.4 points per game entering Saturday’s game vs. Duke.
Jackson’s versatility has allowed UNC to adjust through several different injuries this season, with the 6-foot-8 wing using his size and skill to thrive both inside the paint and from beyond the three-point line.
Kansas is the only school to have two players (Frank Mason III, Josh Jackson) on the Wooden Award Top 15 list, while the PAC-12 leads all conferences with four selections–including UCLA’s outstanding freshman point guard, Lonzo Ball.
Tar Heel point guard Joel Berry was among the final 20 candidates for the award, but did not make the cut this time around.
The winner is determined by a panel of nearly 1,000 media members–as well as a fan vote–and will be announced during the ESPN College Basketball Awards on Friday, April 7.
Voting takes place from March 13 to March 20, with fans able to cast their selections at www.woodenawardvote.com.
For the full list of nominees, click here.
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