Rui Hachimura named Naismith Player of the Year finalist

Gonzaga Bulldogs junior forward Rui Hachimura is one of four finalists named to as a Naismith Player of the Year. If he wins, he would be the first player from Gonzaga to win the award.

Hachimura joins Grant Williams from Tennessee, Ja Morant from Murray State, and Zion Williamson from Duke as members of the rather esteemed club.

Rui has had himself a year so far, averaging 20.1 points and 6.6 rebounds for one of the top teams in the country. He is the focal point of Gonzaga’s No. 1 ranked offense, and helped lead the Zags to the third No. 1 seed in school history.

In any year, that might be enough to win it. But of course, we are in the Year of Zion, and anyone not named Zion Williamson should be considered an underdog to win any award. Still, to be considered as one of the four best is a great honor.