2011 Naismith Player Of The Year Award: A Three Headed Race To the Finish

With the 2011 Men's basketball season heading into the final six weeks, the race for the Naismith Player of the year is a daily topic of debate in the sports world. This year's race has three strong candidates in BYU's Jimmer Freddete, UConn's Kemba Walker and Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.

The trendy pick to win the award is BYU's Jimmer Freddete. Jimmer shoots threes better then most players can shoot free throws and his range begins when he steps foot over the half court line. Jimmer averages a scorching 27 points per game including a 47 point night against Utah. Jimmer can score at will and has led his team to a 20-2 record. Jimmer puts on a shooting clinic every time he steps on the court and has become a household name over the past few weeks for his scoring ability. The biggest knock on Jimmer is that he plays in the Mountain West where the competition night in and night out is not comparable to what Jimmer might face in the Big East or the Big Ten, but that doesn't stop him from being at the top of most player of the year lists to this point.

Not far behind Jimmer is Uconn's Kemba Walker who plays in the nation's toughest conference and averages over 24 points per game while grabbing five boards and dishing out 4 as well. Walker also has hit last second game winners against Texas and Villanova in dramatic fashion. Walker is a consistent scorer; in his worst game of the year, he still managed 14 points in a win over Marquette. I think if Walker can lead UConn to the top of the Big East, where they are currently fourth, then I think he can jump Jimmer by the end of the season because he plays for better team in a better conference.

 Ohio State's Jared Sullinger has been the driving force behind the Buckeyes unblemished 22-0 and number one ranking. Sullinger plays more like a battle tested senior then the freshman he truly is. Plus, when you draw comparisons to Greg Oden's freshman campaign, your doing pretty good for yourself. Sullinger averages a double double with 18 points and 10 boards per game. Sullinger has become the go to guy for the Buckeyes, who have been tested in some close road games the past few weeks and it's been Sullinger who has found ways to keep his team perfect. Sullinger could become the second freshman ever to win the award dating back to 2007 when Kevin Durant took it home. Many people seem to write Sullinger off because Ohio State has other players who can make plays, but anyone who watches the Buckeyes knows that they rely heavily on the freshman and will likely go as far as he can take them.

This could end up being one of the closer Naismith Player of the year races in recent memory, as a case can be made for each to win the award.