Luka Garza of the Iowa Hawkeyes has officially been named the Naismith National Player of the Year. Garza was the pre-season favorite to win the award and he never faded from that. Luke Garza ended the season with averages of 24.1 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, and an absurd 62% true shooting. He was a monster in the post as well as an excellent floor spacer from three. He certainly put up the numbers to earn the award and he lead Iowa to a second seed in the NCAA Tournament.

There were other contenders for the award this year and the race was very tight. Freshman Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State made a legitimate case to be the National Player of the Year. Gonzaga's Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs were also in contention after leading the team to an undefeated season.

Luke Garza Was The Best Collegiate Basketball Player

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In the end, Garza deservedly won the award despite the competition. Sadly, Luka Garza and the Iowa Hawkeyes could not match their regular season success in the tournament. Iowa lost in the second round to the Oregon Ducks, lead by Chris Duarte and coached by Dana Altman. Still, Garza's season will be remembered as one of the greatest in basketball history. Luka Garza joins the annals of NCAA Men's Basketball History next to names like Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and many others as a Naismith National Player of the Year.

The effect this could have on Garza's draft stock could be very interesting. Luka Garza is a very polarizing prospect in the draft sphere. Many see him as a first round talent, citing his college production and shooting as sure things at the next level. Others see him as hardly draftable because he is a slow-footed, offensive big man and the NBA has moved away from players of that archetype. Either way, Garza is going to have a very long career in professional basketball, whether it be in America or elsewhere.