Annual college basketball award
TheAP College Basketball Player of the Year is an award given by theAssociated Press (AP) that recognizes the best men's and women'scollege basketball players of the year in the United States. The men's award began in 1961 while the women's began in 1995. The AP Player of the Year is one of the major national player of the year awards.
According to APNews.com, "Voting is done at the conclusion of the regular season and before the NCAA tournament starts. Voting is based on regular season performance. The men's panel is made up of 62 media members who regularly cover college basketball and vote in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll. The women's panel consists of 35 media members. The voting panel includes local beat writers at newspapers and broadcast outlets, along with national media."[ 1]
There have only been two total players, one on each of the men's and women's sides, to be named the AP Player of the Year three times:Ralph Sampson ofVirginia (1981–1983), andBreanna Stewart ofUConn (2014–2016).[ 2]
Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the AP Player of the Year at that point
a Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971 after converting toIslam .[ 92] ^ "How the AP selects the college player and coach of the year winners" .APNews.com . The Associated Press. April 5, 2024. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 .^a b c d "Stewart Player of the Year for third time" .Danville Register & Bee .Danville, Virginia . April 3, 2016. p. 21. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .Stewart was a unanimous choice Saturday, the first time that's happened since the first award in 1995. Ralph Sampson, of Virginia, was the only men's basketball player to win the award three times. ^ Meier, Ted (March 2, 1961)."Jerry Lucas AP's Player Of the Year" .The Vidette-Messenger .Porter County, Indiana . p. 11. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Lucas Named AP Player Of Year" .Journal & Courier .Lafayette, Indiana . March 3, 1962. p. 13. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Hart, Reese (March 2, 1963)."Duke's Art Heyman Is Named AP Player Of The Year" .Asheville Citizen-Times .Asheville, North Carolina . p. 9. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Gary Bradds Is AP's Player Of Year" .The Herald-Sun .Durham, North Carolina . March 5, 1964. p. 20. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Princeton's Bill Bradley AP Player of the Year" .Johnson City Press .Johnson City, Tennessee . March 4, 1965. p. 13. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Halls, Bill (March 2, 1966)."Russell Is Picked as AP Player of the Year" .Muncie Evening Press .Muncie, Indiana . p. 19. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Alcindor AP's College Player of the Year" .Oshkosh Northwestern .Oshkosh, Wisconsin . March 1, 1967. p. 7. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ " 'Big E' Is AP's Player of the Year" .Star-Gazette .Elmira, New York . March 3, 1968. p. 48. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Alcindor AP Player of Year" .Redwood City Tribune .Redwood City, California . February 28, 1969. p. 9. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Maravich AP Player of Year; Bonnies' Lanier Distant 2nd" .Dayton Daily News .Dayton, Ohio . March 5, 1970. p. 35. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Austin Carr Selected AP Player of the Year" .Florida Today .Cocoa, Florida . March 19, 1971. p. 24. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Berger, Dan (March 16, 1972)."UCLA's Walton Is Named AP's Player Of The Year" .Selma Times-Journal .Selma, Alabama . p. 11. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Walton and Wooden Are Honored" .Richmond Times-Dispatch .Richmond, Virginia . March 21, 1973. p. 25. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Thompson, AP Player of Year, played big boys" .San Angelo Standard-Times .San Angelo, Texas . April 2, 1974. p. 18. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "David Thompson Repeats" .Danville Register & Bee . Danville, Virginia. March 27, 1975. p. 36. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Indiana's Scott May AP Player of the Year" .St. Joseph Gazette .St. Joseph, Missouri . March 12, 1976. p. 14. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Johnson AP's Player Of Year" .Pacific Daily News .Hagåtña, Guam . March 9, 1977. p. 32. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Butch Lee Is Named AP Player of Year" .The Sun News .Myrtle Beach, South Carolina . March 14, 1978. p. 12. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Bird Top AP Player Of Year" .The Goldsboro News-Argus .Goldsboro, North Carolina . March 13, 1979. p. 6. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Aguirre AP Player Of The Year" .The Taylorville Daily Breeze Courier .Taylorville, Illinois . March 21, 1980. p. 7. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^a b c "Sampson Takes Third Award" .The Vicksburg Post .Vicksburg, Mississippi . April 1, 1983. p. 12. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Jordan Named AP Player of Year" .The Burlington Free Press .Burlington, Vermont . March 31, 1984. p. 18. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Ewing, Frieder Take AP's Player, Coach Awards" .The Palm Beach Post .West Palm Beach, Florida . March 30, 1985. p. 77. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Berry AP's Player of the Year" .Pacific Daily News . Hagåtña, Guam. March 30, 1986. p. 38. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Navy's David Robinson AP player of the year" .Brattleboro Reformer .Brattleboro, Vermont . March 28, 1987. p. 15. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Bradley points man Hawkins is named AP Player of Year" .Lexington Herald-Leader .Lexington, Kentucky . April 2, 1988. p. 33. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ O'Connell, Jim (April 1, 1989)."Arizona's Elliott is AP Player of Year" .The Morning Call .Allentown, Pennsylvania . p. 48. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "LaSalle's Simmons Voted AP Player Of Year By Media" .Pharos-Tribune .Logansport, Indiana . March 30, 1990. p. 10. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "LSU's O'Neal is named AP player of the year" .The Indianapolis Star .Indianapolis, Indiana . March 30, 1991. p. 48. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Foreman, Jr., Tom (April 4, 1992)."Another dream comes true for top AP player Laettner" .The News Journal .Wilmington, Delaware . p. 10. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "IU's Cheaney named AP player of the year" .The Star Press .Muncie, Indiana . April 3, 1993. p. 9. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Robinson AP player of year" .The Greenville News .Greenville, South Carolina . April 2, 1994. p. 5. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Smith AP player of year" .Richmond Times-Dispatch . Richmond, Virginia. April 1, 1995. p. 33. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Yantz, Tom (March 30, 1996)."A lesson from Camby" .Hartford Courant .Hartford, Connecticut . p. 104. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Wake's Tim Duncan AP player of year" .The Times and Democrat .Orangeburg, South Carolina . March 12, 1997. p. 12. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^a b "Jamison, Holdsclaw named players of the year" .The News Herald .Morganton, North Carolina . March 27, 1998. p. 13. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^a b "Brand, Holdsclaw earn player of year honors" .The Columbian .Vancouver, Washington . March 26, 1999. p. 47. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Martin honored as top AP player" .The Ithaca Journal .Ithaca, New York . April 1, 2000. p. 19. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Duke's Battier named AP Player of the Year" .North County Times .Escondido, California . March 31, 2001. p. 26. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Williams is top AP player" .Tampa Bay Times .St. Petersburg, Florida . March 30, 2002. p. 60. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ O'Connell, Jim (April 5, 2003)."Xavier's West is AP Player of Year" .West Central Tribune .Willmar, Minnesota . p. 13. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "St. Joe's sweeps" .Corpus Christi Caller-Times .Corpus Christi, Texas . April 3, 2004. p. 26. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Bogut gets AP player of year" .Anchorage Daily News .Anchorage, Alaska . April 2, 2005. p. 28. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ O'Connell, Jim (April 1, 2006)."Redick named AP's player of the year" .Idaho Statesman .Boise, Idaho . p. 11. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ O'Connell, Jim (March 31, 2007)."Durant, Bennett AP Player, Coach of Year" .The Santa Clarita Valley Signal .Santa Clarita, California . p. 18. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "North Carolina's Hansbrough, Drake's Davis selected AP player, coach of the year" .Journal Tribune .Biddeford, Maine . April 5, 2008. p. 17. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Griffin, Self named AP player, coach of year" .Winston-Salem Journal .Winston-Salem, North Carolina . April 4, 2009. p. 27. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Ohio State's Turner named AP's top player" .Tri-City Herald .Kennewick, Washington . April 3, 2010. p. 24. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "BYU's Fredette selected AP player of the year" .Kitsap Sun .Bremerton, Washington . April 2, 2011. p. 17. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Davis AP Player of Year" .The Wichita Eagle .Wichita, Kansas . March 31, 2012. p. 10DD. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Michigan's Burke was AP Player of the Year" .Chronicle-Tribune .Marion, Indiana . April 9, 2013. p. 13. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Skretta, Dave (April 4, 2014)."Creighton star named AP's player of the year" .Deming Headlight .Deming, New Mexico . p. 9. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Wisconsin's Kaminsky chosen AP Player of the Year" .Corvallis Gazette-Times .Corvallis, Oregon . April 4, 2015. p. B4. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Charboneau, Matt (April 1, 2016)."Valentine adds AP Player of Year Award to haul" .Grand Haven Tribune .Grand Haven, Michigan . p. 9. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Kansas' Mason named AP Player of the Year" .The Star Democrat .Easton, Maryland . March 31, 2017. p. B6. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Villanova's Brunson chosen as AP Player of the Year" .The Goldsboro News-Argus . Goldsboro, North Carolina. March 30, 2018. p. 10. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Williamson AP player of the year" .Quad-City Times .Davenport, Iowa . April 6, 2019. p. D3. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "AP player of year Toppin of Dayton heading to NBA" .The Sun News . Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. March 27, 2020. p. B1. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Iowa's Garza is AP player of the year" .The Daily Sentinel .Grand Junction, Colorado . April 2, 2021. p. 10. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Beard, Aaron (April 3, 2022)."Tshiebwe of Kentucky is AP player of year" .Merced Sun-Star .Merced, California . p. B2. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Marshall, John (April 1, 2023)."Purdue big man Edey named men's AP Player of the Year" .Daily Journal .Franklin, Indiana . p. C2. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Purdue's Edey voted AP Player of the Year for 2nd year in a row" .Sun Journal .Lewiston, Maine . April 6, 2024. p. C2. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Duke freshman Flagg named AP Player of Year" .Centre Daily Times .State College, Pennsylvania . April 6, 2025. p. D5. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Lobo is named AP's top player" .New York Daily News .Jersey City, New Jersey . April 1, 1995. p. 88. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Riley, Lori (March 29, 1996)."Rizzotti voted AP Player of the Year" .Hartford Courant . Hartford, Connecticut. p. 234. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "UConn Sweeps Top AP Awards" .The Post-Standard .Syracuse, New York . March 28, 1997. p. 42. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Catchings, Auriemma capture AP player, coach of year honors" .The Press of Atlantic City .Linwood, New Jersey . March 31, 2000. p. 51. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Rutherford, Jeremy (March 30, 2001)."AP's player of year award goes to Riley" .St. Louis Post-Dispatch .St. Louis, Missouri . p. 18. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "UConn's Bird AP player of the year" .Martinsville Bulletin .Martinsville, Virginia . March 29, 2002. p. 21. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Taurasi named AP's top player" .Portland Press Herald .South Portland, Maine . April 6, 2003. p. 34. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Duke's Beard is AP's player of year" .Honolulu Star-Advertiser .Honolulu, Hawaii . April 4, 2004. p. 38. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "LSU's Augustus is AP top player" .The Fresno Bee .Fresno, California . April 3, 2005. p. C5. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Augustus named AP's top player; Hatchell completes Heels' sweep" .The Sanford Herald .Sanford, North Carolina . April 2, 2006. p. 18. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Feinberg, Doug (April 1, 2007)."Sooners' Paris hauls in AP player of year honor" .Waco Tribune-Herald .Waco, Texas . p. 42. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Feinberg, Doug (April 6, 2008)."Parker honored as AP player of year; Auriemma wins coach of year" .Leesville Daily Leader .Leesville, Louisiana . p. 8. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Feinberg, Doug (April 5, 2009)."UConn women sweep AP player, coach honors" .The Times .Shreveport, Louisiana . p. 37. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "A surprised Charles is AP player of the year" .Austin American-Statesman .Austin, Texas . April 4, 2010. p. C4. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Moore wins AP player of year again" .The Santa Fe New Mexican .Santa Fe, New Mexico . April 3, 2011. p. D004. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Griner named women's AP Player of the Year" .Concord Monitor .Concord, New Hampshire . April 1, 2012. p. C2. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ "Griner, McGraw are AP player, coach of year" .Columbia Daily Tribune .Columbia, Missouri . April 7, 2013. p. 21. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Feinberg, Doug (March 31, 2017)."Plum and Auriemma are AP Player and Coach of Year" .Globe Gazette .Mason City, Iowa . p. B3. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "South Carolina's Wilson is AP Player of the Year" .The Charlotte Observer .Charlotte, North Carolina . March 30, 2018. p. B3. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^ Feinberg, Doug (April 5, 2019)."Iowa's Megan Gustafson named AP Player of the Year" .The Day .New London, Connecticut . p. D3. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Feinberg, Doug (March 24, 2020)."Oregon's Ionescu is AP Player of the Year" .Longview News-Journal .Longview, Texas . p. C2. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Feinberg, Doug (April 1, 2021)."UConn's Bueckers AP Player of Year" .The Scranton Times-Tribune .Scranton, Pennsylvania . p. B6. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Feinberg, Doug (April 1, 2022)."South Carolina star Boston wins AP player of the year" .Johnson City Press . Johnson City, Tennessee. p. B4. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Feinberg, Doug (March 31, 2023)."Iowa's Clark captures AP Player of the Year award" .Messenger-Inquirer .Owensboro, Kentucky . p. C5. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Feinberg, Doug (April 5, 2024)."Iowa's Clark again AP Player of Year" .Arizona Daily Star .Tucson, Arizona . p. B5. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Kartje, Ryan (April 6, 2025)."JuJu Watkins of USC named AP player of the year" .The News Tribune .Tacoma, Washington . p. B8. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Keidan, Bruce (February 13, 1973)."Police Protection Fails to Lessen Faith in Religion" .The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 13. RetrievedMay 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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U.S. men's college basketball awards
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U.S. women's college basketball awards
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National players of the year Conference players of the year
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National coaches of the year Conference coaches of the year
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