Duke forward Paolo Banchero was one of 20 players listed on the Wooden Award’s late-season watch list on Tuesday afternoon.

The Wooden Award is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding college basketball player.

Banchero is certainly playing like a contender during his freshman season. He’s averaging 17.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while also being effective on the defensive end.

He’s often been Duke’s most important offensive player this season, particularly in ACC play. He’s nearly averaging a double-double (19.4 points and 9.1 rebounds) against conference opponents.

Duke has had six previous winners of the Wooden Award, which is the most of any program. Zion Williamson in 2019 was the most recent winner.

Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr. was cut from the Wooden Award’s mid-season watch list. He’s averaging 14.2 points and 4.5 assists per game this season.

No other ACC played the final cut.

Here’s the complete list of 20 names:

  • Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
  • Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
  • James Akinjo, Baylor
  • Paolo Banchero, Duke
  • Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
  • Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
  • Zach Edey, Purdue
  • Collin Gillespie, Villanova
  • Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
  • Jaden Ivey, Purdue
  • Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
  • Johnny Juzang, UCLA
  • E.J. Liddell, Ohio State
  • Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
  • Isaiah Mobley, USC
  • Keegan Murray, Iowa
  • David Roddy, Colorado State
  • Jabari Smith, Auburn
  • Drew Timme, Gonzaga
  • Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky

Banchero and the Blue Devils will be in action again on Saturday vs. North Carolina in Chapel Hill.