HOUSTON -- Jimmer Fredette, the regular season NCAA scoring leader and first team All-American who led the BYU Cougars to their first NCAA Sweet 16 since the 1980-81 season, was named the 2011 Naismith Men's College Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced this weekend.
Fredette edged out Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger, Duke senior Nolan Smith and UConn junior Kemba Walker to become the first player from BYU and the second from the Mountain West Conference (MWC) to win the award, joining Utah's Andrew Bogut (2005).Fredette was selecte d by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's National Voting Academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, in addition to fan voting via text message, which accounted for 25 percent of the final results -- more than any other national college basketball award. The voting academy based its criteria on player performances throughout the season.
"As it is most years, this year's decision was incredibly difficult. In the end Jimmer's exhilarating play for the Cougars this season was simply too much for voters to ignore," said Atlanta Tipoff Club executive director Eric Oberman, "We congratulate Jimmer and all the finalists on a remarkable season and wish each of the best of luck in their future basketball careers."
Fredette and San Diego State coach Steve Fisher were among those honored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches at the AT&T NABC Guardians of the Game awards show in Houston. Fredette was named the NABC Division I Player of the Year, while Fisher was tabbed the UPS Division I Coach of the Year. A consensus first-team All-American, Fredette led the nation with 28.9 points per game and added 4.3 assists per game this season, helping BYU to the winningest season in school history with a 32-5 record and first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance since 1980-81. The 6-2 guard from Glen Falls, N.Y., shattered Danny Ainge's school career scoring mark, finishing his career with 2,599 points after scoring a school-record 1,068 points this season.
Fredette set BYU single-season record s with 346 field goals, 124 three-pointers, 252 free throws and 1,323 minutes played in 2010-11. The MWC Player of the Year also owns program career records with 2,599 points, 296 3-pointers, 627 free throws, 139 games played, 30-point games (24), 40-point games (6) and wins played in (112).
In addition to the NABC Player of the Year award, Fredette received a BABC Senior Achievement Award as an All-America team member who played for four seasons. The recipient of the Naismith, Oscar Robertson and Adolph Rupp trophies and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award has also garnered National Player of the Year plaudits from the Associated Press, Sporting News, Basketball Times, CBSSports.com and SI.com.
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