MADISON, Wis. – Sophomore forward Ethan Happ of the No. 22 Wisconsin men’s basketball team has been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday.
Happ is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2017 Naismith College Player of the Year. Wisconsin has had three players go on to become Naismith Trophy finalists. In 2015, Frank Kaminsky became the first Badger in program history to win the award when he became consensus National Player of the Year.
After a breakout freshman campaign garnered him Preseason All-Big Ten honors, Happ has been building a case to be an All-American in his sophomore season. The Milan, Illinois, native is a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, while also a midseason finalist for the Wooden and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year awards.
Happ is the nation’s only player to lead his team in points (15.1 ppg), rebounds (8.5 rpg), assists (2.9 apg), blocks (1.6 bpg) and steals (2.6 spg) during conference play.
Over the last 20 seasons, only 3 major conference players have led their team in all 5 categories during conference play: Utah's Delon Wright (2014), St. John's D.J. Kennedy (2010) and Virginia Tech's Bryant Matthews (2003).
Happ is the only player in the NCAA averaging at least 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. In fact, over the last 20 years, no major conference player has reached those marks for an entire season. Vermont’s Marqus Blakely (2009 & 10) is the only Division I player since 1996-97 to achieve those averages.
Happ is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2017 Naismith College Player of the Year. Wisconsin has had three players go on to become Naismith Trophy finalists. In 2015, Frank Kaminsky became the first Badger in program history to win the award when he became consensus National Player of the Year.
After a breakout freshman campaign garnered him Preseason All-Big Ten honors, Happ has been building a case to be an All-American in his sophomore season. The Milan, Illinois, native is a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, while also a midseason finalist for the Wooden and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year awards.
Happ is the nation’s only player to lead his team in points (15.1 ppg), rebounds (8.5 rpg), assists (2.9 apg), blocks (1.6 bpg) and steals (2.6 spg) during conference play.
Over the last 20 seasons, only 3 major conference players have led their team in all 5 categories during conference play: Utah's Delon Wright (2014), St. John's D.J. Kennedy (2010) and Virginia Tech's Bryant Matthews (2003).
Happ is the only player in the NCAA averaging at least 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. In fact, over the last 20 years, no major conference player has reached those marks for an entire season. Vermont’s Marqus Blakely (2009 & 10) is the only Division I player since 1996-97 to achieve those averages.
