USC's Tri-Captains Named To Naismith Trophy Watch List

USC men's basketball captains Bennie Boatwright, Jordan McLaughlin and Chimezie Metu have all been named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List as three of the 50 candidates for the 2018 top player of the year honor, it was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club today (Nov. 9). USC is one of just three schools with three or more players on the list, with only Duke at four having more candidates.

Boatwright averaged 15.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19 games last season. He missed 17 of USC's first 22 games, but ended up leading the team in points per game and helped guide the Trojans to two wins in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The two-year Trojan captain led the team in 2016-17 with an average of 2.5 three-point baskets made per game and with a 90.7 shooting percentage from the free throw line.

McLaughlin, a three-year team captain, averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists during the 2016-17 season. He ranks second on USC's all-time career assists list with 457 and 22nd on its all-time scoring list with 1,188 points. McLaughlin was the only men's college basketball player last season to record at least three assists in every game his team played. McLaughlin ranks first in career assists, first in career steals (141), second in career points and third in career three-point baskets made (131) among returning Pac-12 players.

Metu started all 36 games for USC in the 2016-17 season and averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. He was named the 2017 Pac-12 Most Improved Player, All-Pac-12 second team and All-Academic honorable mention. He had at least six rebounds and 10 or more points in 27 of 36 games and posted six double-doubles. He scored in double figures in 31 of 36 games, including five games of 20 or more points. His 534 points scored tied for the 15th-most in a single season by a Trojan and the most since Nikola Vucevic scored 582 in 2011. He averaged 16.9 points and 8.2 rebounds in USC's final 13 games. Metu also had 80 dunks, more than the total (74) of all of USC's opponent's dunks during the 2016-17 season.

A midseason watch list of 30 athletes will be released on Feb. 14, 2018 and the 50th presentation of the award will take place on April 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Ga.

Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, which have become one of the most prestigious national honors in all of college basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the Naismith Trophy recognizes the top Men's and Women's College Basketball Players of the Year.

Players Mentioned

Bennie Boatwright

Jordan McLaughlin

Chimezie Metu