Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe continued his strong run through the postseason awards circuit on Sunday, when he was named Naismith Player of the Year after a standout junior year with the Wildcats. Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points and 15.2 rebounds for UK in his first season after transferring from West Virginia midway through the 2020-21 campaign.
Tshiebwe is just Kentucky’s second-ever recipient of the Naismith Trophy, joining Anthony Davis, who won the award in 2012. This year’s other finalists were Ochai Agbaji from Kansas, Johnny Davis from Wisconsin and Keegan Murray from Iowa.
Though Kentucky’s season ended in disappointing fashion with a first round NCAA Tournament loss to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s, Tshiebwe managed to be a bright spot even in a bleak moment for his team. The 6-foot-9 bruiser finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds against the Peacocks to close the season with 16 straight double-doubles. That was the longest streak in Kentucky history. His total of 28 double-doubles also marked a program record.
In addition to the Naismith Award, Tshiebwe was also named CBS Sports Player of the Year and has now totaled five NCAA-recognized player of the year awards. Tshiebwe wasn’t the only SEC big man to pick up a Naismith Award on Sunday. Auburn center Walker Kessler earned the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award after blocking 4.6 shots per game as a sophomore for the Tigers.
Ed Cooley of Providence won Naismith Coach of the Year after leading the Friars to a 27-6 season, Big East regular-season title and a Sweet 16 appearance.
Men’s Naismith Player of the Year winners
| Year | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky |
| 2021 | Luka Garza | Iowa |
| 2020 | Obi Toppin | Dayton |
| 2019 | Zion Williamson | Duke |
| 2018 | Jalen Brunson | Villanova |
| 2017 | Frank Mason III | Kansas |
| 2016 | Buddy Hield | Oklahoma |
| 2015 | Frank Kaminsky III | 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 | Saint Joseph’s |
| 2003 | T.J. Ford | Texas |
| 2002 | Jay 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 | UMass |
| 1995 | Joe Smith | Maryland |
| 1994 | Glenn Robinson | Purdue |
| 1993 | Calbert Cheaney | Indiana |
| 1992 | Christian Laettner | Duke |
| 1991 | Larry Johnson | UNLV |
| 1990 | Lionel Simmons | LaSalle |
| 1989 | Danny Ferry | Duke |
| 1988 | Danny Manning | Kansas |
| 1987 | David Robinson | Navy |
| 1986 | Johnny Dawkins | Duke |
| 1985 | Patrick Ewing | Georgetown |
| 1984 | Michael Jordan | North Carolina |
| 1983 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia |
| 1982 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia |
| 1981 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia |
| 1980 | Mark Aguirre | DePaul |
| 1979 | Larry Bird | Indiana State |
| 1978 | Butch Lee | Marquette |
| 1977 | Marques Johnson | UCLA |
| 1976 | Scott May | Indiana |
| 1975 | David Thompson | NC State |
| 1974 | Bill Walton | UCLA |
| 1973 | Bill Walton | UCLA |
| 1972 | Bill Walton | UCLA |
| 1971 | Austin Carr | Notre Dame |
| 1970 | Pete Maravich | LSU |
| 1969 | Lew Alcindor | UCLA |
