Adam Hermann | NCAA.com | April 3, 2018

Villanova's Brunson named Naismith Player of the Year

Villanova wins its second NCAA title in three years

Villanova’s Jalen Brunson has been named the 2018 Citizen Naismith Player of the Year. Brunson is the first Villanova basketball player, man or woman, to win the award in the 50-year history of the men’s award and the 36-year history of the women’s award.

Brunson, a junior, had far and away his best season as a Villanova Wildcat during the 2017-18 campaign. Brunson averaged 19.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor, 41.4 percent on three pointers, and 81.1 percent on free throws.

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His 61.1 percent eFG% was a career high while increasing his usage in Villanova’s offense, a unit which ranked first in the country in offensive efficiency according to KenPom.com.

Brunson was selected over Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton, Duke’s Marvin Bagley III, and Kansas’s Devonte Graham, the other three finalists for the award.

Here’s a complete list of the last 20 men’s Naismith Player of the Year winners:

Year	Player	School
2018	Jalen Brunson	Villanova
2017	Frank Mason III	Kansas
2016	Buddy Hield	Oklahoma
2015	Frank Kaminsky	Wisconsin
2014	Doug McDermott	Creighton
2013	Trey Burke	Michigan
2012	Anthony Davis	Kentucky
2011	Jimmer Fredette	BYU
2010	Evan Turner	Ohio State
2009	Blake Griffin	Oklahoma
2008	Tyler Hansbrough	North Carolina
2007	Kevin Durant	Texas
2006	J.J. Redick	Duke
2005	Andrew Bogut	Utah
2004	Jameer Nelson	St. Joseph's
2003	T.J. Ford	Texas
2002	Jason Williams	Duke
2001	Shane Battier	Duke
2000	Kenyon Martin	Cincinnati
1999	Elton Brand	Duke
1998	Antawn Jamison	North Carolina
1997	Tim Duncan	Wake Forest
1996	Marcus Camby	Massachusetts
1995	Joe Smith	Maryland
1994	Glenn Robinson	Purdue