SAN DIEGO – The United State Basketball Writers of America (USWBA) released its midseason watch list for the 2019-20 Oscar Robertson Trophy and San Diego State junior guard Malachi Flynn was among the 12 Division I student-athletes to make the list.
Flynn is one of three players who does not play in a basketball power conference and is the only player in the nation to average 16.5 points and five assists with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3:1 or better. The Tacoma, Wash., native has scored in double figures in 24-of-25 games this season and led the Aztecs, the only unbeaten team in Division I men's college basketball, to the 2019-20 Mountain West regular-season title.
Members of the association's board of directors chose the players that will be considered as contenders for the National Player of the Year. In March, the USBWA will announce its 2019-20 All-America Team and, at that time, finalists will also be chosen for the player of the year. Once finalists are announced, the entire USBWA membership will vote for the winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy.
Flynn is the second SDSU men's basketball player to be named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch list following Aztec Hall of Fame inductee Xavier Thames who received the honor during the 2013-14 season.
The Oscar Robertson Trophy is to be presented by its namesake at the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta in April and the winner will be honored at the USBWA Awards Dinner on April 13 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest player of the year award and the only one named after a former player.
The USBWA was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With more than 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season.
2019-20 Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
Vernon Carey, Jr., Duke
Devon Dotson, Kansas
Malachi Flynn, San Diego State
Luka Garza, Iowa
Markus Howard, Marquette
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
Payron Pritchard, Oregon
Obi Toppin, Dayton
Cassius Winston, Michigan State-SDSU-