PROVIDENCE, R.I. - University of Cincinnati junior guard Jarron Cumberland was named to the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy Midseason Team as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday. He is one of just 30 players listed for the prestigious player of the year honor.
Last week, Cumberland was selected as one of 10 players considered for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. In January, Cumberland was tabbed to the Lute Olson Player of the Year Award Midseason Watch List. Prior to the start of 2018-19, Cumberland was selected first-team All-AAC by conference coaches.
Cumberland has been recognized for a league-high seven weekly honors by the American Athletic Conference this season, including each of the last five weeks. He has received an AAC-best four player of the week selections and three honor roll salutes.
The Wilmington, Ohio, native is averaging a league-best 19.0 points this season to go with 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 42.4 percent (61 of 144) from three-point range. He has scored 20 or more points in a league-best 12 games, including a career-high 34 points against USF (Jan. 15). He has led the Bearcats in scoring in 16 games this season, including 10 of 11 league games and each of the last eight contests.
Cumberland enters the week ranked among the AAC leaders in eight categories: points (first at 19.0), three-point field goal percentage (second at .424), three-pointers made (tied for fourth at 2.5), assists (11th at 3.4), assist-to-turnover ratio (11th at 1.3), free throw percentage, (11th at .766), steals (14th at 1.3) and minutes played (17th at 31.3).
Cumberland has played well in the clutch this season. He had a hand in 10 of Cincinnati's 12 points in overtime in its 70-65 comeback win at Tulsa (Jan. 10) that sparked a recent eight-game win streak. He also scored 16 of his game-high 25 points in the second half at Temple (Jan. 27) to help rally the Bearcats from a 14-point second-half deficit for a 72-68 victory. It marked UC's largest comeback win this season. Earlier this season, he scored 25 points against Ole Miss (Nov. 24) to be named the Emerald Coast Classic Most Valuable Player.
The Citizen Naismith Trophy list will narrow to 10 national semifinalists on March 4. The four finalists will be announced on March 19 and fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player leading up to the final announcement. The 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson on April 7 during the Final Four in Minneapolis. Only players on the midseason team are eligible to advance to the next round.
2019 CITIZEN NAISMITH TROPHY MIDSEASON TEAM
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech
R.J. Barrett, Duke
Phil Booth, Villanova
Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan
Jordan Caroline, Nevada
Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
Chris Clemons, Campbell
Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati
Mike Daum, South Dakota State
Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Kyle Guy, Virginia
Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
Markus Howard, Marquette
De'Andre Hunter, Virginia
Cameron Johnson, North Carolina
Dedric Lawson, Kansas
Caleb Martin, Nevada
C.J. Massinburg, Buffalo
Luke Maye, North Carolina
Ja Morant, Murray State
Eric Paschall, Villanova
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's
Admiral Schofield, Tennessee
Marial Shayok, Iowa State
P.J. Washington, Kentucky
Grant Williams, Tennessee
Zion Williamson, Duke
Cassius Winston, Michigan State