In addition to causing NBA scouts to drool over his versatile game, Wisconsin Badgers starting forward Jon Leuer has been named to the Naismith Midseason List.
The list is comprised of the top 30 players in the country chosen by Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors. The Naismith Award, given to the top player in the country, will be handed out during the 2011 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Houston.
Leuer has played a key role in helping #13 Wisconsin (18-5, 8-3) reach second in the Big Ten Standings while averaging 19.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Leuer has been well represented by the national media as he was also named to the Wooden Midseason Top-30 and is a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.
The senior from Orono, MN has particularly shined during conference play where he has racked up two Big Ten Player of the Week Awards.
Scoring has been no problem for the big man while reaching 20 or more points ten times this season. Moreover, Jon is also riding a 30 consecutive game-streak with double-digit points.
Leuer’s point and rebound averages are the best in UW’s history since Rashard Griffith in 1995 (17.2 ppg and 10.8 rpg).
On Saturday, Leuer and the Badgers will attempt to take down fellow Naismith candidate Jared Sullinger and #1 Ohio State (24-0, 11-0) at the Kohl Center. UW is 1-18 all-time versus the AP #1 with the only win coming versus the Buckeyes in 1962.
The Badgers will look to match the football team who knocked off #1 Ohio State back in October at Camp Randall Stadium.
Nick Grays is a senior editor at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Brewers. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.