Some of the greatest names in college basketball history have won the Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Trophy.
Names like Lew Alcindor, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, Michael Jordan, and Christian Laettner all have taken home the prestigious honor.
AT&T is now the presenting sponsor of the Naismith Trophy and since this is such an important award, they once again decided to open part of the voting up to the fans this year - fans could text their vote right from their mobile phone.
The winner of the 2013 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be announced at the National Association of Basketball Coaches “Guardians of the Game” awards program Sunday night, April 7 during the Final Four in Atlanta.
Since 2005, AT&T has allowed its customers and fans on other wireless carriers the chance to vote for the most deserving player and help decide who will take home this coveted award. Fan voting counts for a whopping 25 percent of the final vote this year.
The finalists were announced about a week ago, and here they are.
Trey Burke, University of Michigan
This point guard averaged 19.2 points and 3.2 rebounds during this year’s regular season, and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. He also averaged 6.7 assists per game, and that was 11th in the nation.
Doug McDermott, Creighton University
McDermott was also a 2012 Naismith Trophy finalist, he ranked second nationally in scoring with 23.1 points per game, and finished the regular season with an average of 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Playing for his father at Creighton, he has won Most Outstanding Player honors at the MVC Tournament twice.
Victor Oladipo, Indiana University
The 6-5 guard averaged 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He also won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Otto Porter Jr., Georgetown
The junior forward claimed Big East Player of the Year honors and averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game during the regular season.
The players all agreed that is is an honor to be put on the list of finalists.
"It's a huge honor to be back here," McDermott told me on Friday. "A lot of great players and it's good to make it this far."
Porter, Jr. said he never dreamed he would be up for an award like this.
"To be on a list like like, it's a true honor."
Oladipo has a ton of respect for the greats that have won the Naismith Trophy and he was kind of pinching himself that this all was happening.
"If you asked me a couple months ago, and I would not have told you that I would be in this position. It's a blessing to be here with these guys, and it makes me want to keep working hard and be a better player."
One of these players will be taking home the trophy Sunday night and AT&T really has made this award for the players, teams, and all the fans that voted.
Fans were able to vote through April 6.
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