If there were a Wooden Award for the best local college basketball player, who would it be named after? Lefty Driesell? David Robinson? John Thompson Jr.? We’re not ready to make that call. But we can give you this year’s top five candidates. 5. Charles Hinkle (American) » The 6-foot-5 Vanderbilt transfer struggled to find a role last year. This year, he has become the leader for surprising AU (13-7), averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc.
4. Terrell Stoglin (Maryland) »
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He has been the primary target for new coach Mark Turgeon’s crusade against selfish play and lackadaisical defense. But where would the Terrapins (12-6) be without his ACC-high 21.2 ppg and ability to create his own shot?
3. Jason Clark (Georgetown) »
He’s shooting 50 percent from the floor and averaging 15.9 points per game. When Georgetown (16-3) was without Markel Starks on Monday at DePaul, Clark produced a career-high 31 points.
2. Ryan Pearson (George Mason) »
The 6-6 forward has expanded his game under Paul Hewitt, blossoming into a CAA player of the year candidate with averages of 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. The Patriots (15-5) are in first place in the conference with the same record as at this stage last year.
1. Mike Scott (Virginia) » Averaging 16.6 ppg and 8.7 rpg, the 6-8 forward has led the Cavaliers (15-3) to their best start since Ralph Sampson’s senior year (1982-83). The fifth-year senior has been the self-proclaimed “grandfather” of the ACC’s surprise team.
– Kevin Dunleavy
