Gonzaga’s Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke named to Wooden Award All-American team

(As reported in The Spokesman-Review by Jim Meehan)

Gonzaga junior forwards Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke were named to the Wooden Award All-American team.

The top 10 vote-getters for the Wooden Award player of year made the All-American team. The two Zags are joined by Duke’s RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson, Michigan State’s Cassius Winston, Murray State’s Ja Morant, Purdue’s Carsen Edwards, Marquette’s Markus Howard, Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter and Tennessee’s Grant Williams.

Hachimura led Gonzaga in scoring (19.7 points) and was second in rebounding (6.5). The WCC Player of the Year hit 59 percent of his shots. Hachimura on Tuesday was named AP All-America second team with Clark making the third team.

Clarke, who earned the WCC’s Defender and Newcomer of the Year, was No. 1 nationally in field-goal percentage (68.7) and total blocks (117). He averaged 16.9 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds.

Hachimura and Clarke helped Gonzaga (33-4) win a WCC regular-season title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Zags’ season ended with a loss to Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on Saturday.

Both Zags were among 15 players to make the Wooden Award ballot.

The five finalists for the Wooden Award Player of the Year are Williams, Williamson, Barrett, Morant and Winston. The winner will be announced during the ESPN College Basketball Awards show on ESPN2 on April 12.