As reported by ESPN on Wednesday, the 2019 Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 for men’s college basketball was announced.

The award is handed out after each season to the most outstanding men’s college basketball player. Last year, the award was taken home by guard Jalen Brunson out of Villanova. Other notable previous winners include Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012), Blake Griffin (Oklahoma, 2009), Kevin Durant (Texas, 2007), Tim Duncan (Wake Forest, 1997), David Robinson (Navy, 1987), Michael Jordan (North Carolina, 1984), and Larry Bird (Indiana State, 1979).

This year’s midseason list consists of five freshmen

The list also includes four sophomores, eight juniors, and eight seniors. Two players (Luke Maye and Jordan Murphy) were also featured on last year’s midseason list. Three schools have two players on the list: Duke, Nevada, and Tennessee.

Wooden Award Midseason Top 25

  • Nickiel Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech (So., G)
  • RJ Barrett, Duke (Fr., G)
  • Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan (Fr., F)
  • Jordan Caroline, Nevada (Sr., G/F)
  • Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech (So., G)
  • Mike Daum, South Dakota State (Sr., F)
  • Carsen Edwards, Purdue (Jr., G)
  • Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga (Jr., F)
  • Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (Sr., F)
  • Markus Howard, Marquette (Jr., G)
  • De’Andre Hunter, Virginia (So., G)
  • Keldon Johnson, Kentucky (Fr., G)
  • Romeo Langford, Indiana (Fr., G)
  • Dedric Lawson, Kansas (Jr., F)
  • Caleb Martin, Nevada (Sr., F)
  • Luke Maye, North Carolina (Sr., F)
  • Ja Morant, Murray State (So., G)
  • Jordan Murphy, Minnesota (Sr., F)
  • James Palmer Jr., Nebraska (Sr., G)
  • Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s (Jr., G)
  • Myles Powell, Seton Hall (Jr., G)
  • Admiral Schofield, Tennessee (Sr., G)
  • Grant Williams, Tennessee (Jr., F)
  • Zion Williamson, Duke (Fr., F)
  • Cassius Winston, Michigan State (Jr., G)

Markus Howard leads the list

The leading scorer (through games played on January 10) to make the list is Markus Howard who is currently fourth in the nation averaging 25.8 points per contest.

Ja Morant leads the nation in assists per game with 10.5. Jordan Murphy is second in the nation averaging 12 rebounds an outing.

According to the mock draft on NBADraft.net (updated on January 9), the top-six projected draft picks in 2019 all made the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25. They are Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, Keldon Johnson, Nickiel Alexander-Walker, and Jarrett Culver.

Also projected to be first-round picks are Rui Hachimura (ninth), Romeo Langford (19th), DeAndre Hunter (22nd), and Ignas Brazdeikis (29th).

Listed at 6-7, 285 lbs., Williamson is averaging 20.9 points (67.9 percent field goal shooting), 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.9 blocks in 14 games during his first (and almost certainly only) season at Duke.
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