Jarrod Uthoff named late-season Wooden finalist

IOWA CITY —Iowa senior forward Jarrod Uthoff was named one of 20 late-season finalists for the Wooden Award, which goes to the nation's top college basketball player.

Uthoff, who gradauted from Cedar Rapids Jefferson, ranks third in Big Ten scoring (18.4 points per game), first in blocked shots (2.9 per game), fourth in free-throw percentage (84.1), eighth in 3-point percentage (45.2) and ninth in rebounding (6.4 a game).

Three other Big Ten players join Uthoff. They include Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine, Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell and Maryland guard Melo Trimble. Iowa State forward Georges Niang also made the list.

The other 15 late-season finalists include Duke guard Grayson Allen, Virginia guard Malcolm Brogdon, Providence guard Kris Dunn, Kansas forward Perry Ellis, Oakland guard Kahlil Felder, Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield, North Carolina forward Brice Johnson, Louisville guard Damion Lee, SMU guard Nic Moore, Oregon State guard Gary Payton II, Utah forward Jakob Poeltl, Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis, Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet and Gonzaga forward Kyle Wiltjer.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com