Kansas basketball: Devonte Graham making more history
By Stan Unruh
A member of the Kansas basketball team could win the nation’s top college player award two years in a row. Devonte Graham is a finalist for the Wooden Award.
Last April, Kansas basketball fans were thrilled to watch Frank Mason receive the 2017 John R. Wooden Award. The Jayhawk star now running the court for the Sacramento Kings had an outstanding senior season. Except for the ESPY, Mason won every award possible. His running mate Devonte Graham watched carefully and obviously took some notes.
As a matter of fact, on Saturday the decision makers released the list of 2018 Wooden finalists. They only selected 15 players and Graham is included. The 6-foot-2 guard has just as good a chance as anyone to earn the award given to the year’s most outstanding college basketball player.
This year’s list includes five other seniors, four juniors, a pair of sophomores and four freshmen. There are five Big 12 players in the final running. Graham outplayed each of them throughout the season. Think back to Graham’s performance in the 30-point blowout of Oklahoma and finalist Trae Young.
The Jayhawk with the million-dollar smile ran the ESPN favorite off the court in that February 19 contest at Allen Fieldhouse. He did the same thing to finalist Jevon Carter and West Virginia on two occasions this season. Without Graham, the Jayhawks don’t win in Morgantown. With Mason in the stands, Graham and Kansas basketball team rallied to beat Huggins and Company in the rematch.
Keenan Evans of Texas Tech, Mo Bamba of Texas are the other Big 12 Wooden finalists. The despite the split, Graham outplayed Evans in both games against the Red Raiders. The Jayhawk favorite scored 27 in the first meeting to just 15 for Evans. All Kansas basketball fans know what Graham did to the Red Raiders in the rematch.
No player in the Big 12 better than #4
It is obvious Graham is the best Big 12 candidate for the award. We will learn a lot more about the other candidate over the next month. If you follow social media, the Wooden Award Facebook page, Twitter account @WoodAward are available. Kansas basketball fans have every reason to pay attention to this award again this spring.