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Kansas guard Frank Mason III named AP Player of the year

By Brad Berreman

Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) reacts as he drives to the basket during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) reacts as he drives to the basket during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas Jayhawks bowed out of the NCAA Tournament fairly early once again, but Frank Mason III has been recognized again for an excellent season.

After winning each of their first three NCAA Tournament games by at least 20 points, the Kansas Jayhawks lost to Oregon 74-60 in the Elite Eight. But an earlier than expected exit from the Big Dance does not diminish the accomplishments of Kansas’ most important player.

Jayhawks senior guard Frank Mason III was the only unanimous pick for the AP All-American team this year, joining UCLA guard Lonzo Ball, Villanova guard Josh Hart , Purdue center Caleb Swanigan and North Carolina forward Justin Jackson. With that status in mind for Mason, the next piece of news from the Final Four in Glendale was obvious.

Upon receiving 37 of a possible 65 votes from the media panel that votes on the weekly top-25 rankings, Mason has been named AP Player of the Year. Hart was second with 16 votes, followed by Swanigan (nine votes) and Ball (three votes).

Mason filled the stat sheet for Kansas this year, averaging 20.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He also made just over 47 percent of his three-pointers, while converting 79.4 percent of his free throws.

Mason progressed from averaging 5.5 points in a limited role (16.2 minutes per game) as a freshman, to earning Big 12 Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the year and now AP Player of the Year this year. A four-year development curve is rare in today’s “one and done” era of college basketball, and the narrative his upside is somehow limited will follow Mason right into the NBA draft in June.

Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Week 21

Both Draft Express.com (No. 59 overall to the San Antonio Spurs) and NBA Draft.net (No. 48 to the Milwaukee Bucks) have Mason projected as a second-round pick. He seems like just the kind of player the Spurs would take at the end of the draft and get a notable contribution out of, leaving every other team shaking their heads at a missed opportunity.