2016 College Basketball Power Rankings: Player of the Year Predictions

2016 College Basketball Power Rankings – Player of the Year Predictions: Although the 2016 NCAA Tournament is in full swing and a national champion has yet to be crowned, the college basketball Player of the Year Award is technically a regular season award. Of course, team success plays a big part in a player earning the honor, and as is the case most years, the most impactful players on the best teams are at the top of the list of frontrunners again this season. Let’s take a closer look at the top five candidates.

2016 College Basketball Power Rankings: Player of the Year Predictions

1. Buddy Hield, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma Sooners

After flashing his potential throughout his career at Oklahoma, Hield has put it all together his senior year, becoming one of the most prolific and clutch scorers in college basketball. He averaged 25.6 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting during the year, and more impressively, he knocked down 4.0 treys per game at a 46.3 percent clip. Hield has saved the Sooners on numerous occasions, and when he is on his game, he is next to unstoppable on the offensive end. His stats and his value to a very good Oklahoma team should net him Player of the Year honors.

2. Denzel Valentine, Shooting Guard, Michigan State Spartans

In terms of overall production, no player can match what Valentine brought to the table this season. He was a walking triple-double, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game and knocking down 3.4 treys per game at a 44.4 percent rate. He was the engine that drove the offense of a very good Michigan State team, and if the Player of the Year vote was based solely on a player’s total body of work, Valentine would win. However, he didn’t have as many memorable moments in big spots as Buddy Hield, and fair or not, the fact that Michigan State is traditionally a power is going to lessen Valentine’s perceived value. Both he and Hield are worthy candidates, but I expect Valentine to have to settle for being runner-up.

3. Malcolm Brogdon, Shooting Guard, Virginia Cavaliers

He may be the most underappreciated player in college basketball, and if you haven’t watched Brogdon much, you are missing the best two-way player around. On the offensive end, he is an efficient, versatile scoring, leading Virginia with 18.6 points per game on 47.1 clip shooting and hitting 2.1 3-pointers per game at a 40.2 percent clip. On the defensive end, he will guard every position on the court other than center, and he will make that player work for everything without sacrificing his own offensive production. He is the poster child for Virginia’s tough defense, smart offense philosophy, and Brogdon is easily the most valuable player on an excellent Cavaliers team.

4. Georges Niang, Small Forward, Iowa State Cyclones 

Niang is another example of how a player can develop if they actually stay in college and work on all aspects of their game. He has improved his scoring average throughout his career, and he is averaging a career-best 20.2 points per game as a senior. More importantly, he is shooting a career-best 54.6 percent from the field and knocking down 1.6 treys per game. He is the leading scorer for a high-powered Iowa State offense, and whether he is taking the shot or creating for others, the ball is in Niang’s hand for every crucial possession.

5. Brice Johnson, Power Forward, North Carolina Tar Heels

On a team loaded with talent, Johnson has been the stabilizing force on both ends of the court that eventually led the Tar Heels to capture the ACC regular season and tournament titles. The double-double machine is averaging 16.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He is also shooting an impressive 61.9 percent from the field, and he is the one player North Carolina can throw the ball to and count on getting a quality shot.

You can get expert 2016 March Madness picks and 2016 March Madness predictions this month from NSAwins.com’s top handicappers plus a pre-filled downloadable and printable 2016 March Madness Bracket to help you win your office pool!