DURHAM, N.C. – Duke freshman forward Marvin Bagley III has been selected as one of four national finalists for the 2018 Citizen Naismith Trophy, which is presented annually to the player of the year in men’s college basketball.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club unveiled the four finalists for the 50th presentation of the Citizen Naismith Trophy on Tuesday, which include Bagley, Arizona’s Deandre Ayton, Kansas’ Devonte Graham, and Villanova’s Jalen Brunson. Each were their respective conference Player of the Year.
Celebrating its 50th year by honoring past winners, the Citizen Naismith Trophy has been presented to 45 unique winners at 31 schools over the last 49 years, starting with its first presentation to UCLA’s Lew Alcindor, now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in 1969.