LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of Louisville senior guard Russ Smith is one of 15 finalists for the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year Trophy presented by the US Basketball Writer’s Association.
Smith is one of three American Athletic Conference players among the finalists, joining Cincinnati’s Sean Kilpatrick and Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier. The remainder of the group includes Kyle Anderson, UCLA; Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico; Cleanthony Early, Wichita State; Melvin Ejim, Iowa State; Tyler Ennis, Syracuse; C.J. Fair, Syracuse; Nick Johnson, Arizona; Doug McDermott, Creighton; Jabari Parker, Duke; Casey Prather, Florida; Julius Randle, Kentucky; and Andrew Wiggins, Kansas.
A preseason AP All-America selection, Smith is averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 assists, 1.9 steals and has connected on 52-of-139 three-point goals (.374) this season. He is just the fourth Louisville player in history with at least 1,700 career points, 300 assists and 200 steals. Entering the Cardinals’ game against Temple tonight, Smith needs 16 points to move up to ninth in career scoring at Louisville with his 1,707 career points.
The USBWA Board of Directors chose the finalists and the entire 975-member USBWA will vote on the awards, as well as the annual All-America and All-District teams. The Oscar Robertson Trophy recipient will be announced on Friday, April 4, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at a press conference in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
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