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Auburn superstar Johni Broome is one step closer to taking home the program's first 'National Player of the Year' award. The senior, who has widely been considered a co-favorite for the award since January, was officially named a finalist on Tuesday.
Broome was one of four players named as a finalist, with fellow SEC First Team selection Walter Clayton Jr., Purdue star guard Braden Smith, and Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg making up the final four. Coincidentally, there is a chance all four finalists make their way to the final four, as each stars for a team currently set to play in the Sweet 16.
Flagg is hoping to join a prestigious list of Blue Devils that have won the award in the past, while Smith could become the third straight Purdue Boilermaker to take home the honor after center Zach Edey won the award each of the past two years. Clayton Jr. and Broome would become the first men's basketball players to ever win National Player of the Year from their respective schools.
Auburn's best player each of the last two seasons, Johni Broome improved from a fantastic player in 2023-2024 to a dominant big man this season. The senior has already set Auburn's all-time record in double-doubles (19) and rebounds (352) in a season. He also paces all Division 1 players with 414 blocks in 2024-2025, while his points per game average (18.4) ranks within the top 50 in the country.
Duke's Cooper Flagg, along with Broome, have consistently rotated as favorites for the award throughout the regular season. The odds moved in Broome's favor multiple times before injuries or rough stretches of play swung the pendulum back in Flagg's direction. The Duke freshman is currently considered the favorite, but many experts believe the race is still very much up for grabs.
The 2025 Jersey Mike's Naismith National Player of the Year announcement will occur on Sunday, April 6, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in San Antonio. A committee of members cast their vote for the winner, but fans will have a small say as well through a fan vote.
Fans can visit www.naismithfanvote.com or on X (@naismithtrophy) to cast their ballot for one of these four finalists for the National Player of the Year. Voting ends at 12 p.m. EDT on April 1, and fans are limited to one vote per day. The fan vote will account for 5% of the total vote.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Johni Broome named Naismith National Player of the Year finalist
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Broome was one of four players named as a finalist, with fellow SEC First Team selection Walter Clayton Jr., Purdue star guard Braden Smith, and Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg making up the final four. Coincidentally, there is a chance all four finalists make their way to the final four, as each stars for a team currently set to play in the Sweet 16.
Flagg is hoping to join a prestigious list of Blue Devils that have won the award in the past, while Smith could become the third straight Purdue Boilermaker to take home the honor after center Zach Edey won the award each of the past two years. Clayton Jr. and Broome would become the first men's basketball players to ever win National Player of the Year from their respective schools.
Auburn's best player each of the last two seasons, Johni Broome improved from a fantastic player in 2023-2024 to a dominant big man this season. The senior has already set Auburn's all-time record in double-doubles (19) and rebounds (352) in a season. He also paces all Division 1 players with 414 blocks in 2024-2025, while his points per game average (18.4) ranks within the top 50 in the country.
Duke's Cooper Flagg, along with Broome, have consistently rotated as favorites for the award throughout the regular season. The odds moved in Broome's favor multiple times before injuries or rough stretches of play swung the pendulum back in Flagg's direction. The Duke freshman is currently considered the favorite, but many experts believe the race is still very much up for grabs.
The 2025 Jersey Mike's Naismith National Player of the Year announcement will occur on Sunday, April 6, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in San Antonio. A committee of members cast their vote for the winner, but fans will have a small say as well through a fan vote.
Fans can visit www.naismithfanvote.com or on X (@naismithtrophy) to cast their ballot for one of these four finalists for the National Player of the Year. Voting ends at 12 p.m. EDT on April 1, and fans are limited to one vote per day. The fan vote will account for 5% of the total vote.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Johni Broome named Naismith National Player of the Year finalist
Continue reading...
