Andy Katz ranks top-10 contenders for National Player of the Year in college basketball

As the 2021-22 college basketball season continues to move on, it’s getting easier to predict the teams that could potentially be competing for a national championship once March Madness gets underway. While there’s a better understanding of who the best teams are, there’s also a shortened list of the top players that are in contention for the prestigious Naismith Trophy, which is annually awarded to the top player in men’s college basketball.

With the season coming down to the final stretch and players making their claim for the Naismith Trophy, NCAA.com’s Andy Katz has ranked his top-10 contenders for National Player of the Year. The list includes some big-name players that have been in the spotlight since the season first began, and some others who have emerged throughout the year.

Here’s a look at Katz’s Top 10, which includes a comment on each player from the college basketball reporter.

1.) Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky Wildcats: “Double-double machine, best rebounder in the country. He’s No. 1 for me right now.”

2.) Johnny Davis – Wisconsin Badgers: “Without Davis, the Badgers are nowhere near competing for the Big Ten title.”

3.) Ochai Agbaji – Kansas Jayhawks: “Kansas is leading the Big 12 because of Agbaji.”

4.) Kofi Cockburn – Illinois Fighting Illini: “By far the most dominant player in the country at his position. Better offensive player than Tshiebwe, not as good a rebounder or passer. But, I’ve got put them there at No. 4.”

5.) EJ Liddell – Ohio State Buckeyes: “He has emerged as a First-Team All-American, in my book, leading the Buckeyes.”

6.) Keegan Murray – Iowa Hawkeyes: “Putting up Monopoly numbers at Iowa. He deserves to be there.”

7.) Jabari Smith – Auburn Tigers: “One of the main reasons that Auburn is competing for a No. 1 seed and to win the SEC.”

8.) Drew Timme – Gonzaga Bulldogs: “He’s having an All-American, Player-of-the-Year season. It’s just going to be hard to move too high up on this list.”

9.) Jaden Ivey – Purdue Boilermakers: “Game-winner against Ohio State, willed Purdue back against Maryland. He has to be in that top-10. He’s the best player at Purdue, and he needs to be there.”

10.) Bennedict Mathurin – Arizona Wildcats: “Arizona – No. 1 seed leading the Pac-12. Mathurin is their leading scorer. He must be somewhere on this list.”