Mason has edge for top player honors

Kansas coach Bill Self has called senior guard Frank Mason III the “most deserving player” he’s ever coached to win the Wooden Award.

So it’s little surprise that Mason has emerged as somewhat of a front-runner in this season’s race for national men’s player of the year. But there’s hardly a clear-cut favorite in mid-February, as Villanova’s Josh Hart and Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan could easily springboard ahead.

Here’s a full look at the contenders.

1. Frank Mason III, Kansas: As freshman Josh Jackson blossoms, Mason continues to anchor the Jayhawks. The veteran guard has been an elite catalyst all season. His numbers (20.2 points per game, 4.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds) are certainly impressive, but it’s his leadership and clutch playmaking, while coinciding with Kansas’ latest streak of close wins, that helped him stay atop our rankings.

2. Josh Hart, Villanova: The heart and soul of the defending national champions, Hart has spearheaded the offense this season to help the Wildcats stay out front in the Big East standings and currently hold a projected No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. He’s averaging 18.7 points and 6.6 rebounds.

3. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue: The 6-9 sophomore big man has been a ferocious force for the Boilermakers, averaging monstrous numbers — 18.7 points and 13.0 rebounds. He’s the reason Purdue is near the top of the Big Ten race.

4. Lonzo Ball, UCLA: The freshman 6-6 guard leads the nation in assists (7.6 average) and scores when necessary, but the stat sheet doesn’t tell the full story. Ball helps his talented teammates — Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton, T.J. Leaf — thrive with his superb passing and playmaking abilities.

5. Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga: The Washington transfer is having an All-Americacaliber season and is the main reason Gonzaga is unbeaten. He averages 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists for a team unlikely to lose anytime soon. WilliamsGoss’ 33 points in a game Feb. 2 against Brigham Young highlight his takeover abilities.