Alabama star freshman Brandon Miller was not among the four finalists named Tuesday for the Naismith national player of the year award.
The four finalists were Purdue’s Zach Edey, Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kansas’ Jalen Wilson and Gonzaga’s Drew Timme. The winner will be announced April 2 during the Final Four.
The Naismith award has been given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club since 1969. No Alabama player has even won it, although Herb Jones was Alabama’s most recent semifinalist before Miller in 2021.
Miller was named earlier this month as one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith award. He is also among the final 15 candidates for the USBWA’s Oscar Robertson Trophy for player of the year, and is one of 16 players on the ballot for the Wooden Award, the other major national player of the year award.
Miller was initially left off the Wooden Award ballot before being added to the list a week later. The Los Angeles Athletic Club, which organizes that award, did not respond to an AL.com request for comment about the decision. The finalists for the Wooden Award will be announced March 29.
Also on Tuesday, Miller was named the winner of the USBWA’s Wayman Tisdale national freshman of the year award.
ALABAMA BASKETBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Brandon Miller: USBWA Wayman Tisdale national freshman of the year; Associated Press first-team All-America; Sporting News first-team All-America; USBWA second-team All-America; NABC second-team All-America; Naismith Award semifinalist; Wooden Award final 15; USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy late-season watch list; Julius Erving Award final five; SEC player of the year (coaches vote); SEC player of the year (Associated Press vote); SEC freshman of the year (coaches vote); SEC newcomer of the year (Associated Press vote); All-SEC first team (coaches vote); All-SEC first team (Associated Press vote); SEC all-freshman team (coaches vote); All-SEC tournament team; SEC tournament MVP; NABC District 20 first team; USBWA all-District IV team; USBWA District IV player of the year
Jahvon Quinerly: SEC co-sixth man of the year (coaches vote); All-SEC tournament team
Charles Bediako: SEC all-defensive team (coaches vote); All-SEC tournament team
Mark Sears: All-SEC second team (coaches vote); NABC District 20 second team
Noah Clowney: SEC all-freshman team (coaches vote)
Jaden Bradley: SEC all-freshman team (coaches vote)
Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.