(Photo by Mpu Dinali / ESPN Images)
Some of college basketball’s biggest names were honored at the 2019 ESPN College Basketball Awards. Duke standout Zion Williamson and Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu were crowned with the John Wooden award, the most respected honor in college basketball.
“It’s very humbling to receive this awards,” Williamson said. “I know I wouldn’t be here without my teammates”
Williamson also went home with the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award. He, along with guard RJ Barrett, leads Duke in scoring with 22.6 points per game. He leads the team in rebounds with 8.9 boards per game and shoots at .68 percent from the field.
During March Madness, Williamson averaged 26.0 points per game. He aided the Blue Devils to a 32-6 overall record and a 14-4 in the ACC. In 2015, Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell won the same award.
“This season was a movie,” Williamson said. “I enjoyed every moment of it.”
(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)
Guard Ionescu is a two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year and leads all of the NCAA in career triple doubles with 13. With 19.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game, she helped the Ducks reach the Final Four of March Madness this season.
Murray State standout Ja Morant won the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the year award. The Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year averaged 24.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. In January, Morant scored a season high of 40 points and 18 assists in two different matchups. Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker won this award in 2011.
Duke freshman RJ Barrett won the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the year Award. When Duke battled Virginia Tech during the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament, he hit a season high of 11 assists. In June 2018, he helped Team Canada earn a gold medal in the FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup. In 2015, Brooklyn Nets player D’Angelo Russell won the Jerry West Award.
(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)
Gonzaga standout Rui Hachimura was named the 2019 WCC Player of the Year and the USBWA District IX Player of the Year. He averaged 19.7 points per game, hitting a season high of 33 points in the season opening game. He as given All-American honors by multiple organizations.
The winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year award is Ethan Happ of Wisconsin. This season, Happ averaged 17.3 points and 10.1 assists per game. He is one of six players in NCAA history who has cscored at least 2000 points, 1000 rebounds, and 400 assists in their career. He also came eighth in the NCAA in double-doubles with 21.
Some of he winners has recently decided to move their talents on the pro level. Hachimura declared the draft prior to the Basketball Awards while Williamson declared the Monday after.
