Naismith Finalists Set

Five men and five women were selected as finalists for the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year awards.

The men were Shawn Respert of Michigan State, Corliss Williamson of Arkansas, Damon Stoudamire of Arizona, Rasheed Wallace of North Carolina and Maryland’s Joe Smith.

Selected as women finalists were Niesa Johnson of Alabama, Rebecca Lobo of Connecticut, Nikki McCray of Tennessee, Colorado’s Shelly Sheetz and Charlotte Smith of North Carolina.

The winners of the awards, presented by Ban and the Atlanta Tipoff Club, will be announced March 26.