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Who won the Naismith Player of the Year in 2016?

ByAdam Stocker|
Jan 16, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots the ball in front of West Virginia Mountaineers guard Tarik Phillip (12) during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots the ball in front of West Virginia Mountaineers guard Tarik Phillip (12) during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield and Connecticut’s Breanna Stewart won the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2016

Last season, there was very little doubt who was walking away with the Naismith College Player of the Year Awards in both women’s and men’s college basketball. Breanna Stewart claimed her third consecutive Naismith, concluding her unbelievable career at Connecticut. Oklahoma senior guard Buddy Hield took the nation by storm, averaging 25 points a game.

Born in the Bahamas, Hield played his prep basketball in Kansas being highly recruited by the University of Kansas and Oklahoma. Ultimately, he enrolled at Oklahoma, playing for Head Coach Lon Kruger. Hield saw his stats increase each season as his game improved. During his freshman season, Hield averaged 7.8 points per game and shot 38.8 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from three. During his senior season, Hield improved his averages to 25 points per game, and shot 50.1 percent from the field and 45.7 percent from three.

There is often talk about a college football player’s Heisman moment, but there is no such Naismith moment discussion. But Hield had his moment against Kansas. Hield dropped 46 points against the Jayhawks inside the Allen Fieldhouse. The Sooners lost in triple overtime, but after that game, Hield had virtually locked up the Naismith award.

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Breanna Stewart entered college as a highly decorated, highly desired college prospect. Stewart began representing the United States as a 14-year-old on the under-16 national team. Already the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, expectations were high for Stewart at UConn, and somehow Stewart blew expectations away.

Having already won the previous two Naismith awards, Stewart concluded her college career by winning her third award, averaging 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.8 steals per game. Even more amazing about Stewart’s career is that she won four National Championships at UConn, including two perfect seasons. UConn’s record with Stewart, 151-5.