Naismith Player of the Year voting process

The Naismith College Player of the Year Award, which is named after the creator of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, is one of the highest honors in college basketball. The first award was given in 1969 to UCLA's Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 1983, the women's college basketball category was also recognized, and the first winner was Anne Donovan from Old Dominion University.

The Naismith Trophy is hosted by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, a group established in the late 1950s to honor and raise awareness of basketball, and is still among the highest honors at the collegiate level. The award has been awarded to many legendary players since its establishment, including Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, and many more. Additional categories were added over time, such as the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and High School Player of the Year awards in 1987. Outstanding coaches at both the college and high school levels are also recognized, and many more to recognize the entire college basketball community.

Who votes for the Naismith Player of the Year Award?

The Naismith Player of the Year is selected through a national poll of a committee that includes basketball coaches, administrators, and journalists, according to the official website of the Naismith Trophy. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, which runs the award, first makes a watchlist of the best players in men's and women's college basketball. Over the course of the season, the committee cuts the candidates to 50, then during the mid-season the list is shortlisted to 30, before finalizing the four finalists in March. The winner is announced in April. The selection committee is responsible for voting on players considering their performance, influence, and overall contribution towards the game. The final award is made with a vote of the committee naming the best player in college basketball.