Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert and Baylor guard Jared Butler, who will attempt to lead their teams into the Elite Eight this weekend, were among the five finalists announced Friday for the 2021 John R. Wooden Award.
Kispert and Butler are the only two active NCAA tournament players vying for the Wooden, awarded annually to the top player in college basketball. Kispert and Gonzaga will face Creighton in the Sweet 16's West Region on Sunday, and Butler and Baylor take on Villanova on Saturday in the South Region.