Marquette University Athletics
Photo by: Isaiah Gencuski
Markus Howard Named Semifinalist For Citizen Naismith Trophy
3/6/2019 9:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Butch Lee claimed award in 1978
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 With four players looking to win the first Citizen Naismith Trophy for their schools and a record six juniors selected, the Atlanta Tipoff Club has announced the 10 semifinalists vying for the honor of Men's Player of the Year.
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Juniors Carsen Edwards (Purdue University), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga University), Markus Howard (Marquette University), Dedric Lawson (University of Kansas), Grant Williams (University of Tennessee) and Cassius Winston (Michigan State University) look to follow in the footsteps of Villanova junior Jalen Brunson, who won the 50th Citizen Naismith Trophy last year. Three of those juniors—Hachimura, Williams and Winston—would be the first from their schools to bring home the Men's Player of the Year honor.
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Sophomore Ja Morant would also be the first from his school, Murray State, to win the Citizen Naismith Trophy. Fellow sophomore P.J. Washington would be the second winner from the University of Kentucky, following Anthony Davis, who won the award as a freshman in 2012. Juniors Edwards and Howard are also in search of the second win for their schools, following Purdue's Glenn Robinson (1994) and Marquette's Butch Lee (1978). Lawson would join fellow Jayhawk winners Frank Mason III (2017) and Danny Manning (1988). Meanwhile, Duke, which is represented by both freshmen on the list—R.J. Barrett, who won the 2018 Jersey Mike's High School Naismith Trophy, and Zion Williamson—looks to claim its eight Citizen Naismith Trophy. Overall, the semifinalists come from nine schools across seven conferences nationally.
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"These semifinalists have played extremely well throughout the season and their careers thus far," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "As the regular season comes to an end, we will see these players persevere and excel as they compete in the post season and for the Citizen Naismith Trophy."
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The four finalists will be announced on March 19, 2019, and beginning March 22 through April 3, 2019, fans will have a chance to vote for their favorite player of the four by visiting naismithtrophy.com/vote to cast their ballot. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall vote. The 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson on April 7, 2019, during the Final Four in Minneapolis.
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"These players have shown the talent, commitment and drive this season worthy of the Citizen Naismith Trophy," said Eric Horowitz, managing director U.S. and travel retail, Citizen Watch Company of America, Inc. "We are looking forward to watching them continue to compete for the Men's Player of the Year honor."
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 With four players looking to win the first Citizen Naismith Trophy for their schools and a record six juniors selected, the Atlanta Tipoff Club has announced the 10 semifinalists vying for the honor of Men's Player of the Year.
Â
Juniors Carsen Edwards (Purdue University), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga University), Markus Howard (Marquette University), Dedric Lawson (University of Kansas), Grant Williams (University of Tennessee) and Cassius Winston (Michigan State University) look to follow in the footsteps of Villanova junior Jalen Brunson, who won the 50th Citizen Naismith Trophy last year. Three of those juniors—Hachimura, Williams and Winston—would be the first from their schools to bring home the Men's Player of the Year honor.
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Sophomore Ja Morant would also be the first from his school, Murray State, to win the Citizen Naismith Trophy. Fellow sophomore P.J. Washington would be the second winner from the University of Kentucky, following Anthony Davis, who won the award as a freshman in 2012. Juniors Edwards and Howard are also in search of the second win for their schools, following Purdue's Glenn Robinson (1994) and Marquette's Butch Lee (1978). Lawson would join fellow Jayhawk winners Frank Mason III (2017) and Danny Manning (1988). Meanwhile, Duke, which is represented by both freshmen on the list—R.J. Barrett, who won the 2018 Jersey Mike's High School Naismith Trophy, and Zion Williamson—looks to claim its eight Citizen Naismith Trophy. Overall, the semifinalists come from nine schools across seven conferences nationally.
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"These semifinalists have played extremely well throughout the season and their careers thus far," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "As the regular season comes to an end, we will see these players persevere and excel as they compete in the post season and for the Citizen Naismith Trophy."
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The four finalists will be announced on March 19, 2019, and beginning March 22 through April 3, 2019, fans will have a chance to vote for their favorite player of the four by visiting naismithtrophy.com/vote to cast their ballot. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall vote. The 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson on April 7, 2019, during the Final Four in Minneapolis.
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"These players have shown the talent, commitment and drive this season worthy of the Citizen Naismith Trophy," said Eric Horowitz, managing director U.S. and travel retail, Citizen Watch Company of America, Inc. "We are looking forward to watching them continue to compete for the Men's Player of the Year honor."
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Players Mentioned
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