Wooden Watch: Trae Young the playmaker, and scorer, at the top
Oklahoma freshman point guard Trae Young reminded the nation in the Sooners' win against Kansas on Tuesday that he's not just the best scorer in the country, but that he's also the best overall player.
After putting up a season-best 48 points — on 39 shot attempts — in a loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, Young attempted just nine field goals in a momentous victory against the Big 12 favorite Jayhawks, while scoring 26 points and dishing out nine assists as OU's tempo-controlling floor general.
Last week's version of Young — the one who committed 12 turnovers in a loss to Kansas State — disappeared against Kansas in exchange for a poised playmaker and game manager with a knack for making his teammates thrive. It's that version of Young that makes it difficult to imagine any other player winning the Wooden Award at this point in the season. Villanova point guard Jalen Brunson, who has mastered the efficiency Young found Tuesday practically all season, might be the only player close to challenging.
► Here's Paste BN Sports' second top 10 players list for the 2017-18 season, determined by college basketball writers Lindsay Schnell and Scott Gleeson:
1. Trae Young, Oklahoma
2. Marvin Bagley III, Duke
3. Jalen Brunson, Villanova
4. Trevon Bluiett, Xavier
5. Jock Landale, Saint Mary’s
6. Miles Bridges, Michigan State
7. Deandre Ayton, Arizona
8. Carsen Edwards, Purdue
9. Luke Maye, North Carolina
10. Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State
Honorable Mentions: Devonte’ Graham (Kansas), Landry Shamet (Wichita State), Tra Holder (Arizona State), Jevon Carter (West Virginia), Grayson Allen (Duke), Allonzo Trier (Arizona), Mikal Bridges (Villanova), Vince Edwards (Purdue), Kyle Guy (Virginia), Collin Sexton (Alabama), Kaleb Martin (Nevada), Keenan Evans (Texas Tech), Aaron Holiday (UCLA), Joel Berry (North Carolina), Angel Delgado (Seton Hall), Jalen Hudson (Florida).
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