The 2016-17 basketball season came to an end on Monday night in Phoenix when North Carolina cut down the nets for a sixth time in program history. On Friday night, the prestigious John R. Wooden Award given to the national players of the year was given to Frank Mason of Kansas and Kelsey Plum of Washington. It was among the many awards given out on the evening in a 90-minute telecast.
Mason led the Jayhawks to a 31-5 record and an appearance in the Elite Eight, averaging 20.9 points and 4 assists per game. He was a consensus All-American and national player of the year, and was also named the CBS Sports Player of the Year.
“First, I want to thank John R. Wooden,” Mason said in accepting the award. “I want to thank my parents, coaches and teammates. This award means everything to me. Nothing would have meant more than a national championship, but I really appreciate it.”
Plum led the country in scoring this season in women’s basketball, averaging 31.7 points per game for Washington, including a 57-point outing on Senior Day.
Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year: Malik Monk
It only took one season for Monk to vault himself to the top of the awards list. The Kentucky freshman finished his freshman season averaging 19.8 points per game, second among all freshman nationally, and reached double-figure scoring in all but two games this season.
“I’m just blessed,” Monk said upon accepting the award. “I’m blessed to be here and I’m just thankful for the opportunities.”
Monk has declared for the 2017 NBA draft and has intentions of signing with an agent. He is expected to be a lottery pick.
Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year: Johnathan Motley
From 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman, to 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds as a junior this season for Baylor, Motley transformed into the Big 12’s most dominant inside presence.
“It’s special,” Motley said. “I’m blessed to be here. It took a lot of hard work and determination.”
Motley was a consensus All-American, and is a projected first-rounder by both CBS Sports NBA draft experts Howard Megdal and Gary Parrish.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Center of the Year: Przemek Karnowski
The 7-foot Karnowski guided Gonzaga to its first trip to the national title game and a program-best 37 wins. Averaging 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, Karnowski was also named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team in his fifth year in Spokane. He won an incredible 137 of his 152 games he played while donning the Gonzaga uniform.
Legends of Coaching Award Winner: Muffet McGraw
Notre Dame women’s coach Muffet McGraw has had an excellent 2017. Not only did she earn the Legends of Coaching Award, but she was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. She has 853 total wins as head coach, won a national title in 2001, and has appeared in seven Final Fours. Notre Dame fell just short of another Final Four appearance by being upset in the Elite Eight by Stanford.
Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year: Josh Hart
Hart averaged 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds this season, shooting 51 percent from the field and 40 percent from three in his last season at Villanova.
Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year: Frank Mason
Mason picked up two honors, starting with the Bob Cousy Award and then the Wooden Award. As a senior for the Jayhawks, Mason averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. He also shot 47 percent from three.
Wooden Award Women’s Player of the Year: Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Plum lead the country in scoring with 31.7 points per game and never ceased to have an off night from the floor. She shot 53 percent from the floor and 42.8 percent from the three-point line.
John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year: Frank Mason
Mason came up just shy of leading the Jayhawks to a Final Four appearance, but the senior point guard didn’t lack in accomplishments. He won national player of the year over Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Caleb Swanigan and Nigel Williams-Goss.