Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell Among Top Candidates for Naismith Trophy

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell is among the Top 30 players in consideration for the 2017 James. A. Naismith Trophy, presented to the nation’s most outstanding men’s college basketball player, in the list announced today.
 
Presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, Mitchell is among a nation-best seven ACC players on the list.  The 10 semifinalists for the national award will be announced March 1.
 
The Cardinals’ top scorer (15.0 ppg) in a balanced lineup, Mitchell is currently eighth in Ken Pomeroy’s national player of the year ratings.  He leads the ACC and ranks 16th in the nation in steals with 53 thefts this season (2.2 per game).
Donovan Mitchell
 
A 6-3 sophomore from Greenwich, Conn., Mitchell scored a career-high 29 points at Pittsburgh on Jan. 24 and enters Saturday’s 2 p.m. game against Miami needing 11 points for 600 in his career.  He was named the ACC and NCAA.com Player of the Week for games Jan. 23-29 when he averaged 28.5 points, five rebounds, four assists and shot 60 percent from the field, including 67 percent from the three-point line (12-of-18).
 
In his last 11 games, Mitchell has averaged 19.2 points 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals and made 32-of-74 three-pointers (.432).  Mitchell grabbed four steals in each of the last two games at Boston College and Virginia, the sixth time he had as many in a game this season.
 
The complete list of the Top 30 candidates is included below.
 
LAST
FIRST
CLASS
POSITION
SCHOOL
CONFERENCE
Bacon
Dwayne
Sophomore
G
Florida State
ACC
Ball
Lonzo
Freshman
G
UCLA
Pac 12
Berry II
Joel
Junior
G
North Carolina
ACC
Brooks
Dillon
Junior
F
Oregon  
Pac 12
Brunson
Jalen
Sophomore
G
Villanova
Big East
Colson
Bonzie
Junior
F
Notre Dame
ACC
Evans
Jawun
Sophomore
PG
Oklahoma State
Big 12
Foster
Marcus
Junior
G
Creighton
Big East
Fox
De’Aaron
Freshman
G
Kentucky
SEC
Fultz
Markelle
Freshman
G
Washington
Pac 12
Happ
Ethan
R-Sophomore
F
Wisconsin
Big Ten
Hart
Josh
Senior
G
Villanova
Big East
Jackson
Josh
Freshman
G
Kansas
Big 12
Jackson
Justin
Junior
F/G
North Carolina
ACC
Keene
Marcus
Junior
G
Central Michigan
MAC
Kennard
Luke
Sophomore
G
Duke
ACC
Landale
Jock
Junior
C
St. Mary’s
West Coast
Leaf
TJ
Freshman
F
UCLA
Pac 12
Markkanen
Lauri
Freshman
F
Arizona
Pac 12
Mason III
Frank
Senior
G
Kansas
Big 12
Mitchell
Donovan
Sophomore
G
Louisville
ACC
Monk
Malik
Freshman
G
Kentucky
SEC
Morris
Monte
Senior
G
Iowa State
Big 12
Motley
Jonathan
Junior
F
Baylor
Big 12
Peters
Alec
Senior
F
Valparaiso
Horizon League
Smith Jr.
Dennis
Freshman
G
NC State
ACC
Swanigan
Caleb
Sophomore
F
Purdue
Big Ten
Thornwell
Sindarius
Senior
G
South Carolina
SEC
Trimble
Melo
Junior
G
Maryland
Big Ten
Williams-Goss
Nigel
R-Junior
G
Gonzaga
West Coast