The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NAMED at the midseason mark as one of college basketball’s top prospects, Buddy Hield survived another round of cuts as the list of finalists for the prestigious award is dwindled down.

Hield was recognised this week as one of the top players in all of NCAA Division I basketball when the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced its John R Wooden Award Late Season Top 20.

Hield is one of three players from the Big 12 on the prestigious list.

The list of 15 finalists will be submitted to the voters on the ballot prior to the NCAA Tournament.

The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-4, 212-pound Hield is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, shooting 44 per cent from the field, 78 per cent from the line and 39 per cent from three-point range. His point per game numbers leads the conference while his three-point shooting and free throw shooting are both ranked seventh.

Since conference play began, he has been one of the best players in the Big 12 and has seen his numbers increase.

In conference play he is averaging 19.5 points and making approximately three shots per game from long distance. He ranks fourth in the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 49 per cent, sixth in steals with 1.7 per game, the top rebounding guard and ninth overall at 5.9 boards per game, ninth in three-point field goal percentage at 40 per cent.

He has led the Sooners in scoring in seven of its last 11 games and has been shooting particularly hot at home in Norman, Oklahoma, at 53 per cent from distance.

On Monday night, he led the No.21 ranked Sooners to their sixth consecutive win, 94-83 over No.14 ranked Iowa State Cyclones. He scored 17 points, shot 7-16 from the field and 3-8 from three-point range.

Hield and the Sooners look to extend their win streak to seven 8pm February 14 when they travel to face the Kansas State Wildcats, broadcast live on ESPN2.