Honors Court: Kaminsky and Okafor Show There is More to Game Than Scoring

March 12th, 2015 - 20:16

Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (18.4 ppg) and Duke's Jahlil Okafor (17.7), running 1-2 in national player of the year consideration, are Exhibit A is showing there is more to the game of basketball than scoring. Whichever center earns the acclaim will post one of the lowest scoring averages for a national player of the year since the major awards were introduced in 1955. Following are the first 10 individuals averaging fewer than 19 points per game the season they were honored as national POY:

National Player of Year School Record PPG Season
Anthony Davis Kentucky 37-2 14.2 2011-12
Patrick Ewing Georgetown 35-3 14.6 1984-85
T.J. Ford Texas 26-7 15.0 2002-03
Ralph Sampson Virginia 30-4 15.8 1981-82
Ralph Sampson Virginia 29-4 17.7 1980-81
Butch Lee Marquette 24-4 17.7 1977-78
Elton Brand Duke 37-2 17.7 1998-99
Nick Collison Kansas 29-8 18.5 2002-03
Walt Hazzard UCLA 30-0 18.6 1963-64
Trey Burke Michigan 31-8 18.6 2012-13
Kenyon Martin Cincinnati 29-4 18.9 1999-00