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Gonzaga's Hachimura, Clarke among final 15 candidates for Wooden Award

Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura were two of the 15 players named to the ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the most outstanding college basketball player.

LOS ANGELES — Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke were named to the 15-man ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, which recognizes the most outstanding college basketball player.

According to a press release on Gonzaga's website, the two Bulldogs made the national ballot consisting of 15 players from across the country.

The pair's selection makes Gonzaga one of only two teams in the country to be represented by two players on the list, with the other being the Duke Blue Devils, according to the release. No other teams had more than one player named to the list.

This is not Hachimura's first honor this year, as he received recognition as the West Coast Conference Player of the Year, according to the release.

Hachimura, a junior guard for the Bulldogs, averaged 20.6 points per game and scored in the double-digits in every one of Gonzaga's games.

Clarke also recently received a pair of accolades, being named the WCC Defender and Newcomer of the year, according to the release. The redshirt junior forward broke Gonzaga's single-season blocks record this year.

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To be named on the ballot for the Wooden Award, players must "exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court" among other criteria, according to the release.

Members of the national college basketball media vote on the award between March 18-25, with results being announced on April 3 after the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament.

Ten players will be named to the Wooden Award All-American team, while the list will be narrowed down to five for the individual Wooden Award for the most outstanding college basketball player, according to the release.

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