The 2020 Wooden Award winner was Obi Toppin he averaged 20.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 2.2 apg.
This year there are 3 players that are ahead of the rest in their case for the 2021 Wooden Award (Evan Mobley, Luka Garza and Ayo Dosunmu).
The case for Evan Mobley:
True freshman averaging 17.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 3.2 blocks/game and shooting 59.9% from the field. He is top 5 in all major categories for freshman, but he will probably not win this award because his numbers are a little behind some of the upperclassmen this year.
The case for Luka Garza:
Luka Garza is my frontrunner for the 2021 Wooden Award. He is 1st in the country in scoring (24.7 ppg). He is also averaging 8.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, and 1.6 blocks/game while shooting 56.3% from the field and 45.1% from 3 point range.
The case for Ayo Dosunmu:
Dosunmu is currently number 10 in the country in scoring (21.2 ppg). He is also averaging 6.2 rpg, 5.3 apg, and he is shooting 49.4% from the field (42.2% from 3P). Ayo Dosunmu is helping Illinois have a fantastic season in the Big Ten, which is more competitive than ever! Ayo Dosunmu also has 2 triple doubles this year (which is half of the total triple doubles in Illinois’ history for college basketball).
According to woodenaward.com the late season top 20 candidates are:
| Charles Bassey | Western Kentucky | Conference USA | 6-11 | Jr. | C |
| James Bouknight | Connecticut | Big East | 6-5 | Soph | G |
| Jared Butler | Baylor | Big 12 | 6-3 | Jr. | G |
| Marcus Carr | Minnesota | Big Ten | 6-2 | Jr. | G |
| Justin Champagnie | Pittsburgh | ACC | 6-6 | Soph | F |
| Kofi Cockburn | Illinois | Big Ten | 7-0 | Soph | C |
| Cade Cunningham | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 6-8 | Fr. | G |
| Hunter Dickinson | Michigan | Big Ten | 7-1 | Fr. | C |
| Ayo Dosunmu | Illinois | Big Ten | 6-5 | Jr. | G |
| Luka Garza* | Iowa | Big Ten | 6-11 | Sr. | C |
| Collin Gillespie | Villanova | Big East | 6-3 | Sr. | G |
| Quentin Grimes | Houston | American | 6-5 | Jr. | G |
| Ron Harper Jr. | Rutgers | Big Ten | 6-6 | Jr. | G/F |
| Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | Big Ten | 6-9 | Soph | F |
| Carlik Jones | Louisville | ACC | 6-1 | Sr. | G |
| Corey Kispert | Gonzaga | WCC | 6-7 | Sr. | F |
| Evan Mobley | USC | Pac-12 | 7-0 | Fr. | F |
| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Villanova | Big East | 6-9 | Soph | F |
| Jalen Suggs | Gonzaga | WCC | 6-4 | Fr. | G |
| Drew Timme | Gonzaga | WCC | 6-10 | Soph | F |
The case can be made for the remaining 17 players on this list. Comment on this post who you think deserves the 2021 Wooden Award and why.
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