Oscar Tshiebwe’s push for Naismith Trophy Player of the Year honors took yet another step forward when the Kentucky star center was named to the award’s Midseason Team on Thursday. Tshiebwe is one of 30 players to make the team, a list comprised of prime candidates to win the National Player of the Year honor.
Tshiebwe’s addition on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team is one of three Player of the Year awards he’s in the running for, joining the Lute Olson Watch List and the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Watch List. He’s also been named to The Sporting News and The Athletic Midseason All-America Teams, while also being named a finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which honors the nation’s best center.