Gonzaga Bulldogs forwards Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura are two of the 30 players named to the Naismith Player of the Year Award midseason list. Their presence makes Gonzaga one of seven schools to have two players on the watch list.
Hachimura is the leading scorer at 20.2 points per game on the best offense in the nation. Clarke is shooting a staggering 68.8 percent from the floor, the best mark in the nation, and is one of the better shot blockers in college hoops. Combined, the two players give Gonzaga one of the best frontcourts in the nation.
It is also finally time for Clarke to get the praise he deserves. Clarke was left off of both the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Award and the Karl Malone Award watch lists, which go to the top center and power forwards, respectively. Considering that Clarke is No. 5 in the Ken Pomeroy player of the year ranking, it is a rather glaring oversight to leave Clarke off those lists.
Click here to see the other 28 players on the Naismith midseason list.